Life, 1924-01-24 · page 26 of 36
Life — January 24, 1924 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two unrelated pieces of satirical humor typical of early 20th-century Life magazine. **"Taking a Fall Out of a Watch"** is a comedic dialogue between a watch owner and a watchmaker. The narrator's broken watch has stopped working; the watchmaker diagnoses various problems (bent balance-wheel, rusted regulator, broken mainspring). The humor lies in the owner's escalating frustration as he realizes the watch likely suffered from minor damage he himself caused—possibly dropping it—which he initially denied. The cartoonist's illustration shows them examining the watch together. The satire targets both the narrator's self-deception and watchmakers' patronizing explanations of mechanical failure. **"Things That Ain't"** is a poem by Keith MacKaye about meeting an optimistic vagabond in Union Square. The man dreams of escaping to paradise but acknowledges the world is flawed. He offers himself as a "savior" to fix society through work ethic and moral reform, though he appears homeless ("shoes with disrepair"). The satire mocks utopian reformers and their naive faith that common sense and hard work can cure society's systemic problems. Both pieces share skepticism toward false solutions.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Taking a Fall Out of a Watch facts of the affair here and there HESE the My watch, having simply come are pullers s had a fall * said I the conclusion that it had been runn its nd There the long enough, closed eyes turned over on its back and died. with on the connected should wefore violence all; nly was 1 matter you understand this thorou merely tomary ten, then twenty, then forty, and finally going on, It increased its cus to slowed down. loss of five minutes a day tested mildly © completely ou cl When I took it out of and found and is snapped off “But it ha You pr T the without a s breath and qu my pocket one day not is fact 1 wound it it to a watchmaker was running, | was All this broken.” and took No, Tdi “Your r and patted it lator He opened it up and gave it a pinch — leave it out in the Wave Rez BOAT Officer: vou rromisep Te THAT NEW RUM- CHASER DONE BEFORE THIS. WHAT'S THE CAUSE OF THE DELAY? Stk, YOU'RE NEXT ON THE LIST, BUT WE HAVE ALKEADY PROMISED THESE THREE RUM BOATS FIRST. with said In ples matter, bad you must be mistaken,” I pro- pil crystal isn’t “It fell on its side; an.” ably accidentally pushed it mantelpiece ; t push it rain?” some cyebrow “I feel sure it hasn't been out of my “It needs a thoror must have taken the back off in a sand cleaning; you ysantly putting him “it hasn't had a storm.” “You I don’t think—” fall,” said he must have thrown it off the mt remember—why, the the joint-staff our balance-wheel is warped.” cried I, unable to re I took i ‘So is yours! strain myself any longer of his hand and departed But it is most disturbing, the effect watchmakers have on one’s « I know that watch has least kind of fall Berry Fleming yur mainspring is ion of one’s sanity is rusted; did you not had. the and yet Things That Ain't (1 Practical Philosopher Waits for the World to Stow Up) MET a gentleman of girth to-day in Union Square His large proboscis glowed with mirth; his shoes with disrepair ‘O gentle friend,” said I in awe, “what makes you s so far? He answered that he longed to soar above the evening star, And visit realms behind the moon, where parks were bright and sunny, And every man an idle one, with pockets full of money “But then, you see,” he spat and said, “such blessings can’t be had. It's just the way the world is made—most everything is ut now I'm here, I've stay—a_ savior that’s me; Tl cure this fool w come to id apyway, and here’s my plan, you sec “We wasn't set on earth to fret a I love my fellow f jump like scalded fleas k, you bet, and folks beyond the seas But every And if God soap. ne of you dumb fools is busy beyond hope e was dirty tools, your motto would be s gr I say, and ‘let the old cat dic.” to-mor Or folks that have run to-day »w'll have to fly “Don't press your suits; don't block your hats mend your ragged pants: Unless somebody stops work flat, the rest cant have no And so I left him sitting there ‘d saint, Whose mind seeped out along his hair—in search of thi an unrec that ain't. Keith MacKaye comicbooks.com