Life, 1924-12-11 · page 8 of 36
Life — December 11, 1924 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces from early 20th-century Life magazine: 1. **"A Reorder"** (top): A butcher's wife asks her husband to resend a calf liver, praising the previous one—a domestic humor piece about household complaints. 2. **"The Boomerang"** (left): A plumber's wife complains he never comes home, suggesting he avoid forgetting his tools. The cartoon shows a couple, likely depicting marital friction over work habits—common satirical subject matter. 3. **"That Clever Comeback"** (right): Features "Macbeth Modernized," a comedic adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy set in contemporary times, with characters discussing crossword puzzles and radio—satire mocking both modernization and literary adaptation trends. The page reflects early 20th-century middle-class domestic humor and parody of highbrow literature for comic effect.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1 WOUT2 XAw sewoTu | . —— A REORDER “MA SAYS TIE LAST CALF LIVER YOU SENT WAS VERY NICE, AND WOULD YOU SEND HER ANOTHER ONE FROM THE SAME CALF.” The Boomerang LUMBER'S WIFE (as tire blows out on country road) : Well, why do you sit there—why don’t you get up and change it? Prumner: I forgot my tools. He: aren’? YOU AND THE MISTLETOE That Clever Comeback JOKEWRITER is a man who thinks hours afterward of the brilliant reply he might have made; writes down the setting—and his reply —and sells both. ON SPEAK “NOT IN THIS JAM. 11's TOO MUCH LIKE KISSING YOUR BROTHER GOOD-BY AT A RAILROAD STATION.” “Macbeth” Modernized ADY MACBETH: Alack, afraid they have awaked, And 'tis not done. Th’ attempt and not the deed Confounds us. Hark.... (Enter Macbeth.) My husband! Macsetu (much agitated): I have not done the deed. The horrid game is up! Lapy MacsetH: How? Up? Macsetn: Ay, up. With Tarquin’ ravishing strides Towards my design I glided like ghost. Methought I heard a voice cry, no more Until a word six letters long thou finds: Synonymous with ——” Lapy Maceetn : Horror! One of those! MacsetuH: Duncan himself! A cross word puzzle fiend! Lavy Macsetu: Infirm of purpose! Give me the dagger! Macsetn: Peace! The end’s not yet Even as he spake Donalbain, bursting from his chamber, cried: “My liege, we've got Chicago on your radio; Four thousand miles without an aérial, Wondrous clear.” And Duncan, with a shout, Did bid me come and hear it, anon was gone. Lapy Macsetn (in a sweet rage) : Out, damned set! Out, I say! To bed, to bed; there’s knocking at the gate. Macsetu: Al's here! he comes too late. Honk! Honk! “RUT we couldn't have been going that fast, officer. The car can only do thirty-eight miles an hour.” “What d’you want—the whole road?” “Well, they're the same tires we had on when we left Mudtown, and we've been three thousand miles since then.’ “If we don't find a roadhouse soon, T'll die of thirst.” “Wha'd’ya mean—a one-man top!” “Oh, well, it’s not such a long walk.” C..G. S. I am “Sleey Alack, I fear AH. F. POUBTLESS the Klansman spends his idle evenings playing with fiery crossword puzzles. comicbooks.com