Life, 1925-12-03 · page 73 of 84
Life — December 3, 1925 — page 73: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical commentary on human nature and procrastination, not political satire. It depicts Mr. Biddle's changing attitudes toward snow removal on his sidewalk over two months. The joke tracks his shifting excuses: Initially eager ("the exercise will do me good"), he progressively becomes lazier and more irritable as snow continues falling. By January, he refuses responsibility entirely, even offering a stranger money to do the work—the very task he'd claimed would benefit him in November. The satire mocks how people make grand New Year's resolutions but quickly abandon them, and more broadly, how circumstances erode our initial good intentions. Biddle represents the common man whose determination weakens when faced with ongoing inconvenience. The piece suggests self-discipline is easier to declare than maintain.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Dear me! What can I give John for Christmas?” exclaimed Sally. “Does be abave himself?” asked Phil. “Yes, and how be bates it.” foe." eid Phil. “fer Lnow wemething you can him which wll male his shaving lly! Tm consumed with Gur Twinplex Stropper,” suggested Phil. believe he would use it. I've beard Joba say he n't bother t0 arop his blades, new blades are «0 heap. “He won't say that after be hae had one shave with a w blade @ropped on Twinplex,” insisted Phil. Docs Twinplex really improve a new blade?" asked Sally. “Lubould say it does. Inever knew what a good abave was LT shaved with a new blade which had been @ropped on Twinpler,” said Phi emphatically. Will a Twinplex make a blade lie longer?” asked Sally. ll,” Phil ejaculated. “Why, I use one blade a time. : ly,” exclaimed Sally, “Tl give Joba a Twinplex and it won't gost anything, for be petee to buy 60 cuny blades. You, cn get a Twingles for hie at any gnod store Send for this unique Home 3] for Old Blades inside this tiny house with green blinds, blades put to harm anyone. Send 1oc., name your razor all send you a Dull House and a sharp new blide, een by @ropping on Twinples. We would just like to show you what Twinplex will do to a new: For Sfteen years Twinplex Stroppers have been sold on al at leading ores all over the world. Ask your dealer for one. TWINPLEX SALES CO. 1722 Locust St., St. Louis New York Montreal London Chicago tropper "OR SMOOTHER SHAVES + LIFE -: The Beautiful Snow (Remarks of Mr. Biddle on the sub- ject of its removal from the sidewalk.) OVEMBER 24—“Well, well, well ! By George, it’s a real snow! Bet- ter get at the walks, I guess. Mother! Mother! Where's the snow shovel? Too hard for me? Nonsense! The exercise will do me good. Ha! Ha! Ha! Watch it melt away now!” December 1—“Snowing? Oh, is it? Yes, I'll clean 'em, but what's the hurry? Oh, all right, I'm going. You make a lot of fuss over a little snow. Yes, I'm going.” December 19—“Well, dawggonit, I don’t care if it is six inches deep, it’s still snowing. What's the use of clean- ing the sidewalks when it’s still snow- ing? That's ridiculous! Oh, all right, all right! Have it your own way. «Guess it'll be all right if I just make a narrow path, No use trying to get it all off at once.” December 28 — “Snowing again! Well, let Willie clean off the walks. Do him good. Willie! Willic! Too young, nothing! He's big enough. Be- sides, a man of my age ought to be careful about doing heavy work like that....All right, where’s the shovel? .-Well, can you beat that for nerve? —Ed. Freeman quitting three feet short of the boundary line. I'll be danged if I'll do it for him!” January 2i—“Two feet deep! Well, let the city clean ‘em! I'm not going to. No, I'm not, and that’s all there is to it! Let Willie do 'em. Thirteen years old and can't shovel a little bit of snow! Well, by golly, I—say, there's a fellow with a shovel going down the street. Yell at him! Hey! Hey! I'll give you a dollar to clean the side- walks! Yeah, and come around every time it snows....Now let it snow!” John C. Emery. It’s a Safe Bet S the day drew to a close, ten per- sons in the Gigantic Trust Com- pany Building were writing their New Year resolutions. They were the pres- ident of the company that owned the building and a dozen like it, an ele- vator man, a stenographer, a book- keeper, a window washer, a barber, a scrub-woman, the cigar-stand man, an office boy, and an author who rented an office in the building. They had all drawn up lists and were looking over their pledges to themselves, Finally, each crossed out every resolution ex- cept one and decided to concentrate. And the one they all left read: “T resolve to write a play in 1926.” McC. H. Huc#: Are you the girl I kissed between dances? 69 THE REDDY TEE Being made from ONE PIECE of selected birch, give you the best service a tee can give. They won't break off, slump down, or disinte- grate with use or from dampness. They last until you lose them—and are hard to lose! You know you can DEPEND on a REDDY Tee. You can forget it, and concentrate your mind and eye on the ball, REDDY Tees give you cleaner, longer drives; they help keep your nerves steady, and your hands and knickers clean. Be sure to ask for REDDY Tees. Your “pro” has them. Yellow or red, Eighteen in a handy box— twenty-five cents. For the Golfer’s Christmas Send $1 for four packages of REDDY Tees packed in a handy and handsome leather case—a gift your golfer friend will really appreciate. THE NIEBLO MANUFACTURING CO., Inc. Tuatyeicnt East Twenty-tuirp Srazer New Yore Irene: Which dances? SS comicbooks.com