Life, 1925-09-03 · page 11 of 36
Life — September 3, 1925 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate humorous pieces rather than political commentary. **Top Cartoon:** A man proudly displays new balloon tires to a woman, who responds with mock enthusiasm, questioning why he didn't mention owning them before. The joke plays on the novelty of balloon tires—a relatively recent automotive innovation—suggesting men boast about new possessions. **"Raising Cane" Article:** A comedic essay about the impracticality of carrying a cane as a fashionable accessory. The author humorously catalogs problems: it gets in the way during daily activities, interferes with dining, and causes embarrassment. An accompanying sketch shows someone awkwardly managing a cane while in a rowboat ("A Water Hazard"). The satire targets masculine vanity and fashion trends—here, the affectation of carrying canes despite their obvious inconvenience.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
: I JUST GOT A SET OF BALLOON TIRES. She (cagerly): WHY, GEORGE, 1 DIDN'T THINK YOU HAD A BALLOON, AS a rule I have tried not to carry a cane, I mean, things are bad enough while I am wearing out my birthday neckties without adding in- jury to insult, Only, it happened yes- terday Bill left his stick behind, and, of course, the only decent thing to do was to take it back to him. There are several ways to carry a cané, besides sending it parcels post. You may link it over your arm, as if you were escorting it in to dinner; you may tap with it ahead of you, and now and then take off your hat for pennies; or else, if you wear lemon spats and your mid- dle name is Vetch, you may stride up Fifth Avenue swing- ing it in a little arc and touch- ing it to the pavement brightly every fourth step. That was what I did, among other things. I must have got into the rhythm of the thing, or it may have been the fashion maga- Raising Cane zines I had picked up in barber shops; but I had no sooner taken to swinging it that way than I experienced the irre- sistible impulse to hail something. There was the cane in my hand, and there was a taxi; and before I could control my- self I had swung the stick jauntily and said: “Hi!” Two blocks later I crawled out and paid the driver. It was no use. Half a block, and I had hailed a bus. I got down, and then promptly hailed another tax I A WATER HAZARD hailed forty-seven taxis in the course of the afternoon, as well as eighteen buses, two hacks and sixty fellows- well-met. I spent my last bill to hail a messenger. “Take this cane,” I choked; “take it to Bill.” “What cane?” he asked. “This cane right here,” I said, ex- tending my hand. “You haven't got any cane in your hand,” he said slowly. It was true. I didn’t have any cane. I had left it in the first taxi I hailed. That is why I think there’s something psychological about carrying a cane, after all. Corey The Very Place ADGE: I've a dreadful cough. Marjorie: So have I. Let's go to the theatre. Ford. comicbooks.com