Life, 1925-05-21 · page 16 of 40
Life — May 21, 1925 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two humorous short stories with accompanying illustrations, typical of Life magazine's satirical format. **"A Grin Fairy Tale"** depicts a husband at a party, asked about his absent wife. He claims she's visiting relatives, but admits missing her. When a reddish man laughs knowingly, the husband reveals his "secret": he's actually having a gay time without her. The story satirizes marital discord and suggests men preferred their wives absent for social enjoyment—a common domestic humor trope of the era. **"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"** is a brief joke about a junk shop near a railroad crossing advertising to motorists: "Go ahead, take a chance. We'll buy your car"—dark humor about inevitable accidents. Both pieces reflect early 20th-century social attitudes toward marriage and automotive safety through gentle satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
RED GULCH TUNES IN ON TITE BED-TIME STORY "THERE once lived (this was before the War, children) He was, indeed, quite mis- erable when his Fireside Companion departed for a three weeks’ visit to the South while he remained in the city to a man who loved his wife. earn the wherewithal for her trip. Evening after evening he spent at home counting the days until her return. One night, however, he was invited to a dance, and because he knew that his wife would prefer to have him go, he accepted. The first person to whom he spoke at the party, a man of reddish counte- nance, said meaningly: “You lucky dog! Your wife's away, isn’t she?” To which the Husband replied: “She is. But I wish she'd come back home. I miss her.” Whereat the man of reddish mien laughed loudly and winked a fat eye, indicating that the Husband's secret was in safe hands. The next person (it was a woman) suggested: “I know you are having a gay time while your wife is away.” “Why,” asked the Husband, “should I be having a gay time? I'm having a bum one, if you really wish to know.” The Young Thing giggled right mer- rily. “YES, you are,” she answered, and A Grin Fairy Tale FARMER PERKINS CONVERTS HIS BARN INTO A STATIC FACTORY called brightly to a friend across the room, repeating the Husband's amusing quip. “Theatres, dances and everything, I suppose, now that the Ball and Chain is gone, whom he spoke. Iam having quite a dull time,” replied the Hus- suggested the next man to band. But a changed expression had come into his eyes. “Ha, ha!” the other laughed. The Husband sprang suddenly for the speaker and in a second was energetically banging his head on the floor. “Get this,” he hissed between bangs. “T love my wife, no matter how long I've lived with her. I wish she'd come back this minute.” “There, there!” cried the guests sooth- ingly as they pulled the Husband from his victim. “We all know that you are a great wag, but there is such a thing as carrying a joke TOO far.” Tracy Hammond Lewis. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot JUNK shop near a railroad crossing in New Jersey bears this admoni- tion to motorists: “Go ahead, take a chance. We'll buy your car.” comicbooks.com