Life, 1924-12-18 · page 13 of 37
Life — December 18, 1924 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains Christmas wishes and humorous illustrations typical of Life's satirical content. **Top cartoon**: Shows two poorly-dressed men beside a "Wanted: Snow Shovelers" sign. The joke, captioned "Say, Bill, dere's a good job fer yeer," mocks the desperation of unemployed workers during winter who would accept any labor, no matter how temporary or poorly paid. **Lower left illustration**: Depicts someone asking a friend to help open wrapped presents and remove price tags—satirizing the awkwardness of receiving cheap or marked-down gifts, suggesting the giver is either stingy or indifferent. **Right column**: Instructions for a "Mammy Song Chorus," providing stage directions for performing a minstrel-style song. This reflects period entertainment conventions, though the content reflects problematic historical practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Why Not the Truth? ISS FLORENCE ELLEN TUTTS Takes a Chance And Sends You Christmas Wishes Because Your Name Was on an Old List And She Cannot Recall Whether You Were A Liability or An Asset. eee Mr. Bachelor Button Wishes You the Season's Best Because, After All, A Dinner Is a Dinner, No Matter Who Gives It see The Season’s Compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Many A. Fairs from Mr. and Mrs. Legal Lights, Who Trust One of You Will Be Decent Enough to Retain Mr. Lights For Your Next Divorce. eee Mr. and Mrs. George Glump Wish You A Merry Christmas Day, This Being as Delicate a Way As Any Of Reminding You of the Hundred You Borrowed “Until the Banks Open Monday,” Last March. James K, McGuinness. t Wanre, SNow SHoveters “SAY, BILL, DERE’S A GOOD JOB FER YER.” IX ON DE SNOW-SHOVELIN’, DEY AIN'T NO FUTURE IN IT,” Model for a Mammy Song Chorus PENING WORDS; “Id like to be ——". repeated as long as the audience can stand them . These are Follow-up: “’Way down in Open your geography and pick anything at all in the tates below the Mason and Dixon Line. It may be a river, a town or a swamp. Vaudeville and radio audiences are not particular. Continuation: “Where the” something or other “is"— anything that rhymes. Prolongation: “And the cotton blos- soms grow,” or any other romantic Tin Pan Alley plant. Repetend: “I'd like to be ——" Maybe somebody in the audience missed it the first time. Localization: “Where my mammy ", Begin stuttering the word “mammy” ad lib, That shows emotion if you remain alive. At this point any attempt to keep the words meaning something may well cease. What's the use? Grand Finale: Never mind why, but fling out your arms and continue bleat- ing. Elias Lieberman. “ ELL,” said the disgusted bell-boy as he looked at the nickel tip, (ENRY, I WISH YOU'D COME IN AND HELP ME OPEN THESE PRESENTS I'M SENDING “he’s not bluffing—he’s a real million- AND TAKE OUT ALL THE PRICE TAGS THAT ARE UNDER FIVE DOLLARS.” aire, all right.” comicbooks.com