Life, 1925-11-19 · page 34 of 40
Life — November 19, 1925 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three humorous short stories typical of Life's satirical humor circa the 1920s: **"Too Much"** mocks a film comedy director attending a wedding who is frustrated that nothing goes wrong—no drunk ushers, no physical mishaps, no comic timing failures. He's so conditioned to expect slapstick that a dignified ceremony offends his sensibilities. The joke satirizes how entertainment industry professionals view real life through the lens of manufactured comedy. **"Old Jokes at Home"** is a meta-joke about a club dedicated to recycling tired jokes (represented by stock characters like "Mother-in-Law" and "Little Willie"). They vote to admit "Pedestrian" as a member—the humor being that pedestrian, worn-out jokes belong in a club for old jokes. **"Nubbville Spark"** is a small-town tall tale about a man who discovers a railroad switch problem and supposedly saves "a hundred thousand dollars"—the joke being the absurd exaggeration typical of rural boasting. The page also contains period advertisements and fundraising appeals, including one for Belgian war relief, reflecting post-WWI American concerns.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
wh a a t a whale of mr . cc aii ference just atew cents make Old Jokes at Home Tue members of the Old Jokes Club were having a meeting. Around the table sat Waiter-and-Soup, Mother-in- Law, Little Willie and numerous other veterans. After a long discussion, the chairman, Pat-and-Mike, addressed the board. “I think he’s seen enough serv- ice to be elected,” he said. So Pedes- trian became a member of the club. Clark’s Famous Cruises by Cunard Line, new oll-burners Jan. 20, Around the World Cruise westward. 128 days, $1250 to $3,000. Jan. 30, Mediterranean Cruise 62'days, $600 to $1700. June 30, 1926, Norway and Western Mediterranean; 53 days, $550 to $1250. The Louvain Library Fund Tue Louvain Library Fund is a mat- ter involving America’s honor, for we promised the Belgians, when their little country was devastated in the war and their beautiful Library with all its books and manuscripts left in ruins, that we would restore the Library and let the new building itself be a per- manent memorial to our soldiers who fell overseas. The Fund was started and prospered, and the new Library commenced and good progress made. But our enthusiasm seems to have waned, with nearly half the required sum still to be raised. It will be to our shame as a nation if we fall down on this job with America’s pledge unfyffilled, and above all, leave our dead soldiers’ memorial unfinished, Too Much Tue movie comedy director was sit- ting in the front row at his friend's wedding. He was in a bad humor, for not a single usher was inebriated, and the organist did not have an Adam's apple that would have been funny in a close-up. The bride entered sedately, and the groom and best man made their way to the altar without mishap. The director began to writhe. The bride wore a peach of a long veil, but no one stepped on it. One laugh after another spoiled! Even the minister failed, and held the prayer book right side up. It was getting unbearable. And when the best man reached for the ring and found it in the first pocket, without fumbling, the director could stand it no longer. Quite forgetting himself, he leaped up and in a voice of rage shouted: “Do that over! Where do you think you are—in a church?” Nubbville Spark By discoverin’ an open switch just before time for the noon train Tues- day, Hoddy Hewgill saved the railroad company casily a hundred thousand dollars, the largest amount ever saved by anybody in this neighborhood. CAROLINA HOTEL NOW OPEN ‘The Winter Country Club of People of Affairs More than usually interesting program of 5 Four 1$-hole Donald), Ross Golf 1 Rates include hotels, drives, guides, fees. Longest experienced cruise management. Established $0 years F.C. CLARK, Times Bidg., New York half paid for. Have we forgotten them so soon? We solicit contributions for this worthy cause. comicbooks.com