Life, 1925-07-02 · page 35 of 47
Life — July 2, 1925 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces typical of 1920s humor: **"Drummers' Yarns"** mocks traveling salesmen ("drummers"—salespeople) and their tired repertoire. Chester attempts to tell a predictable joke about a chorus girl, but is rebuffed by a salesman spouting pseudo-intellectual philosophy about Einstein and relativity. The joke's irony: Chester retreats to *Red-Hot Stories* magazine, which begins with the same "two traveling salesmen" opening—suggesting all such stories are derivative clichés. The cartoon at top depicts a barbershop scene with the caption joke about a woman's hesitation during a haircut, playing on anxiety about salon decisions. **"Easy"** is a brief domestic dialogue where Della confidently states she'll never tire of her husband, presenting conventional marriage sentiment. **"Economical Wife"** offers visual satire: a wife suggests driving close to a muddy construction site so the car gets free washing—trading dignity for pennies, satirizing women's penny-pinching domestic economies during economically austere times. All three pieces reflect period gender roles and commercial culture through gentle mockery.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“NOT JUST NOW, THANKS. Drummers’ Yams I" seems there were two traveling salesmen in the Pullman smoker when Chester entered. Chester knew all about traveling salesmen in Pull- man smokers, and he ga’ sigh of satisfaction. Both men were rotund, forid, a trifle oily, and with twinkling ernails that reflected excellent mani- curing; it was obvious to Chester that he was a lucky guy. Ten minutes faded into the horizon. Chester grew impatient. “Did either of you gents hear that one ebout the chorus girl—?” he began. am thinking,” said the salesman nearer the window, to the other, ignor- ing Chester's query, “about your ideas Einstein, Here we sit rushing through time and space. Out on that green hill both scem absolute, yet we pass it at sixty miles an hour——" But Chester had gone. He sought seat 13 with a sad eye. From his grip he took a copy of the latest edition of Red-Hot Stories. He whirled about with his back to the now remote green hill where time and space were called “YOU'RE NEXT, LADY. HAIR CUT?” VM JUST LOOKING AROUND, 1 MAY BE BACK LATER.” Easy Li“ DYD (after a momentary silence) : Do you suppose that you will ever tire of me? Detta: T can't think « why [ shouldn't! ubsolute, and sullenly opened the paper volume. Then his gray eyes brightened and he relaxed happily in his chair. “It seems,” began the first story, “there were two traveling salesmen in a Pullman smoki rman, Jr. Economical Wife: prive up CLOSE, EDGAR, AND WE CAN GET THE CAR WASHED FOR NOTHING, comicbooks.com