Life, 1924-03-20 · page 38 of 42
Life — March 20, 1924 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and humorous domestic narrative**, not political satire. The main content, "A Message to Garcia," presents a husband's attempt to run his household like a business office—a satire on 1920s efficiency culture and bureaucratic management trends. He appoints his housemaid Bridget O'Hara as "Office Manager" and establishes formal procedures (conferences, voucher systems, salaries). The humor lies in the wife's resistance: she refuses to accept his organizational schemes, asserting that "You're the only business I care about"—a gentle critique of applying rigid business logic to domestic life. The surrounding **advertisements** reflect period concerns: Bostonians shoes ($7-10), Old Town Canoes, and notably "Forhan's for the Gums," promoting treatment for pyorrhea (gum disease), which the ad claims affects "four out of five people over forty." There is **no political cartoon** on this page. The satire is social commentary on marriage dynamics and the era's obsession with efficiency and scientific management in all life spheres.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Anew soft-toe brogue—blucher cut for greater comfort. $7 to WHEREVER YOU ComMONWEALTH SHOE LeaTuER Co. O OTHER SHOE will contribute quite so much to your comfort in the impending warm weather as a pair that fits everywhere, binds nowhere, looks “like a million,” and is worn by more than a million—yes, Bostonians. $10 SEE THIS SIGN Boston AND WHITMAN, Mass. A Message to Garcia Ir was only last week when the le Woman and I were trying to balance our checkbook for the month—for the month of February, 1923, that. is that the idea came to me “We ought to run this house like a nization,” was the way I put my foot in it, and she completed the had work by saying, “Go to it.” So I did. My first concern was the installation regular, efficient business org ‘Old Town Canoes” are patterned after real Indian madels. | They are graceful, strong and kably steady, “Old Town Canoes" respond antly to every stroke of the blade, They are in price. $64 up. From dealer or factory. The new 1924 catalog is beoutifally d- Iustrated. It shoes ell models om full colors. Write for your free copy to-day. OLD TOWN CANOE CO. 1433 Middle Street, Old Town, Maine, U. S. A. ET FREE FACTS ABOUT——. SILVER FOX of some atmos ASINESS. pirational phere around the house. Over our fire place was a motto reading, “Home- Keeping Hearts Are Happiest”; this I changed to “Happier and Heartier Homes; 1924 Will Reward Housckecp- ers!” [also thought up a slogan for It Shall Be Done.” Then I drew up a set of rule the front hall, standards of practice.” as follows 1. This house — shall known as “The Office.” 2. The Office shall open promptly at 7:30 a. M. daily, with a Food Products Conferen in the Dining Room. These conferences will also be held at 1 and 6:30 P. at. for the proper dis- of such matters as may be offered for proper action, and disposal. 3. The Office Personnel shall consist a Board of Directors and an Office Manager. Bridget O'Hara is appointed to the latter office. She will be respon- sible for the prompt calling to order of all conferences. hereafter be 4. All expenditures shall be accom- plished and accounted for by means of the Tr Voucher - Visible - Index - Doubl ystem, and all vouchers must be countersigned. 5. Monthly salaries will be substi- tuted for weekly wages. A yearly bonus may be paid on gas, ice and but- ter saved. “There,” 1 remarked, “that ought to clear up a lot of loose ends. you present this to the Office M and get her reaction.” Remembering her promi the minister when he married us, the L. W obeyed me, and was soon Jid the Office Mana tice?” I asked She gave it,” was the answer, “as of even date, too.” “Well.” T said, accept her resignation, “Wrong again,” repl “we'll have no more of this business Do you hear “ii she insists, we can d-my partner; bunk around the house me Denial was useless; any one could have heard her, Placation was in order. “You're the only business I care about,” I essayed, ra “Is that so?” she said. I say. In other words, mind y ness!” I looked at the hall motto, “It Shall Be Don it was! c4 warning bleeding gums RE your gums tender? Do they bleed when brushed? If so—warch out for Pyorrhes. This disease of the gums, which E> aMlicts four out of five peosle over forty, not only destroys the teech, but often wrecks the healch. InPyorrhea the gums become spongy. and fall out— or must be extracted to rid the system of the infecing Pyorrhea germs which breed ets about them. These germs ower the body's vitality and cause many diseases, You can keep Pyorrhea aw Visit your dentst often for te and gum inspection, and use Fo han's For the Guns Forhan's For the Gums pre- vents Pyorthea — or checks progress — f used in ume ‘wed consistently. Ordinary dere lufrices cannot do this. Forhan's lheeps the gums firm and healihy — the teeth white and clean. ‘Start using it today. If i have seceded, use For ‘saccording to directions, and consult a dentist imme: ately for special treatment. 3Sc and 60e tubes in U. S. and Canada. Formate of BJ, Portas, D. D. 8 comicbooks.com