Life, 1927-01-20 · page 12 of 34
Life — January 20, 1927 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of humor: 1. **"Thrift"** by James A. Sanaker: A domestic comedy about a husband sent shopping for whipping cream apparatus. The joke satirizes penny-pinching thriftiness—the wife quibbles over whether to buy at a hardware or dime store, then demands exact change, revealing false economy when the "savings" cost more in aggravation. 2. **"They Call Them the Happy Days of Childhood"**: A mother exhausted by her son's constant demands and misbehavior. The satire mocks sentimental nostalgia about childhood, contrasting idealized memories with parenting's actual chaos. 3. **"Ten Questions to Ask Any Chamber of Commerce Secretary"**: Satirical questions exposing how Chamber of Commerce officials exaggerate city virtues through propaganda and selective truths. The illustrations use period-appropriate sketch style typical of early 20th-century American humor magazines.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
10 ' Life Thrift M* wife sent me out to buy the necessary apparatus for whipping whipping cream. I asked myself whether to go to the hardware store and spend a quarter or walk another block and buy it in the dime store. Economy won the argument. “Is that the dingus for whipping whipping cream?” I asked a clerk. “Yes, did you want a bowl with it?” she countered. “The whole outfit,” I nodded. “Ninety cents,” she murmured, “or did you want me to put it in a shopping ba “Ninety cents?” I echoed, a bit peevishly. “I thought I was in a dime store.” “You are—but the bowl is ten, the cover is ten, the guard, is ten, the top is ten, the handle is ten—” “Enough,” I cried, handing her a dollar. “Thank you,” she said, sweetly. “Where’s my change?” I demanded, sternly. “Why—the shopping bag is ten cents,” she explained. Next time I'll go to the hardware store and get a one-piece whipper for a quarter. James A. Sanaker. They Call Them the Happy Days of Childhood “QTOP that this minute! Pull down your blouse. Come here to Mother. Pull up your socks. Stop! I said NO! You can’t play with that. That’s a good boy, kiss Mother. Now remember what Mother said. No, No. HOW MANY TIMES must I tell you to let that ALONE! Let Mother comb your hair. Do you want me to get that stick? You MUST take your nap now, dear. Stop that crying this instant! I said NO! Do you want a drink of water? Moth- er’s lamb!” L.M.C. “THE TIGE! “YEAH—HE HT SINCE HE BUNCH OF Z061L0GY STUDENTS FROM HARVARD.” Ten Questions to Ask Any Chamber of Commerce Secretary JUST why do you say this city is better than any other? Would you say it was if you didn’t live here? Do you swear you haven't overestimated the popula- tion to me? Did you stop at every hotel in your town to learn if all gave courteous treatment, and had reasonable rates? Why do you tell me I can get better results by trading with local merchants? What makes you think real estate will increas here? Do you believe everything you tell me? Would you tell me what you do if you didn’t get paid for it? Who pays you? Why? William Sanford. Overheard in Dubuque QURST CITIZEN: Why does that man always walk down the middle of the street in the evening? Srconp Citizen: Oh, he just moved here from Chicago. ULARLY, DOFSN’T HE?” “YES, 1 GUESS I'LL HAVE TO PUT THAT BOY ON A FIVE-DAY WEEK.” CCASIONALLY, a new play is 995% pure. It sinks. comicbooks.com