Life, 1925-07-30 · page 23 of 36
Life — July 30, 1925 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top illustration satirizes the bicycle craze of the 1890s ("Gay Nineties"). It shows stragglers from a "Century Run" (a 100-mile bicycle club outing) returning to town—some on bicycles, others riding in horse-drawn wagons, suggesting they couldn't complete the grueling ride and had to abandon their bikes partway through. The satire mocks the pretensions of this fashionable sport and those who attempt it without sufficient stamina. Below, "The T.B.M. at Work" depicts a harried businessman (Mr. Sparks) constantly interrupted by phone calls—a satire on the chaotic nature of modern business communication via the newly prevalent telephone. He juggles work calls, personal matters, and social obligations while trying to dictate to his secretary, showing how technology was fragmenting attention rather than improving efficiency. The small cartoon about "Keokuk kid" appears to be a humorous note about a child's writing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
na penne THE GAY NINETIES THE VANGUARD OF STRAGGLERS, FROM THE “CENTURY RUN” OF THE LOCAL BICYCLE CLUB, BEGINS TO DRIFT BACK INTO TOWN. The T. B. M. at Work AKE letter, Miss Brown. Central ply Company, City. Gentlemen. We are in receipt of—hello! Yes, this is Mr. Sparks. Make it snappy, I'm busy now and can't—oh, beg your pardon, Mr. Forrester. I didn’t recog- nize your voice. Yes, I'm running kinda short. Got any good stuff? Well, send up a case of rye. Thank you very much for calling. Good-by. Now, where was I?—receipt of your request for an estimate—hello! Well? Calm yourself, now. How in blazes can I help it if Billy got into a fight? Wish you wouldn't keep taking up my time like this. No. Won't be home to- night. Got important conference on with customer. ’By. Read what I said—for an estimate on two dozen— hello! Well, well, Tommy. blank glad to hear from you. Blankety- How's the boy? Behaving yourself? That's good. Who'll be there? The little one on the end? Honest? You bet you can count on me. So long, old man. Will you please read what I've dictated, Miss Brown? Oh, yes—two dozen drums of Number 68—hello! Who? Oh, hello, George. Now? Who's sit- ting in? Sounds good to me. Be right over. That'll be all for to-day, Miss Brown. If anybody asks for me tell ‘em I've gone out to close a big deal. Robert Hage. The Custom UTHOR'S FRIEND: Is it going to be a serious operation? Autnor: Oh, no. I've just gone stale and need something to write about. comicbooks.com