Life, 1926-03-04 · page 27 of 40
Life — March 4, 1926 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story satirizes a wealthy businessman's inability to discipline his own child, despite controlling a massive corporation. Mr. Glucass, president of the United Gadget Company (a fictional industrial giant), is described as "Single-Track"—a man who refuses to do anything he doesn't want to do. The humor centers on his weakness: his wife demands he spank their son Junior for breaking expensive stained-glass windows, but Glucass avoids the task, claiming he'll do it "after dinner." When he finally goes upstairs, Junior merely complains of stomach pain and Glucass abandons the punishment entirely. The satire mocks the contradiction between ruthless business authority and domestic powerlessness—a wealthy magnate who controls millions cannot control his own household. The accompanying joke about a radio announcer avoiding calling listeners "folks" is unrelated social commentary on contemporary radio conventions.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mr. Glucass at Home The Great Gadget Magnate Handles a Domestic Problem “ RED,” said Mrs cass, | Sen handed his hat, coat and stick to the three fi eys at the door of his home, “Junior was very bad to-day. He deliberately broke two of the stained-glass windows in the kitchen.” “The — ten-thousand-dollar — one asked Mr. Glucass (Mr. Glucass was president of the United Gadget Company, and personally controlled the destinies of the Gadget Trust, the third largest industry in the United States.) aid Mrs. Glucass; “if they had just been the ten-thousand-dollar ones I wouldn't have said anything, but they were that pair of fifty-thousand I told Junior you'd come right up and spank him when you g “Did you?” asked Mr. Glucass ner- vously, “I—I'll go up and see him after dinner.” “You'll go now,” said his wife. said Mr. Glucass was known throu ut the financial world as “Single-Track” Glu cass, the man who could never be made to do anything he didn't want to do.) “LOOK, MOTHER, SHE'S GOT HER LOUD-SPEAKER “Hello, old bean,” said Junior, when Mr. Glucass entered the boy's room. “All right, but not longer than that, te “Daddy is very cross with you,” said Mr. Glucass, said Mr. Glucass. (The King of England c had to (The Gadget Company had a special send Mr. ss a personal apc { home for Mr. Glucass’ stenographers. because a Prime Minister had kept him he never lost his head.) It was called “The Nervous Wrecks’ waiting ¢ minutes while deciding don't think yc reed t Retreat.”) whether to send other fred thou- — Moth s r. “All I ne “All I did, governor, was to bust a sand soldiers to th ed window,” said Junior Junior finished the chapt Mr opped into bed and Mr. Glucas “You shouldn't break windows. It Glucass sighed and took off his coat h As Mr. Glucas only makes daddy have to spank you. “Oh, daddy,” wailed the boy, “I have of Junior called Come on, bend over.” such a pain—all of a sudde after him “Aw, wait till I finish this chapter.” “Dear me,” cried Mr. lucass, in- “I wouldn't say anything to Mother, no use worrying her.” That's very the tiul of yor said Mr, Gl fully and went (Mu This is Station MEOW. Your man in the announcer has just received notice put anything that he has been awarded some kind P. Ghucass, of the Gadget Tru of an award because he has re- Bertram frained from referring to you as - “folks.” OWARD: Have yo Jav: Yes, bi Howarn: Hard, hite to drink comicbooks.com