Life, 1927-07-14 · page 17 of 40
Life — July 14, 1927 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes a vagrant (homeless man) negotiating with what appears to be a druggist or shopkeeper. The vagrant hasn't eaten in two days and asks for a sandwich and coffee for ninety-five cents—a modest request. The joke's irony: the vagrant demonstrates shrewd knowledge of where to find cheap food, suggesting drugstores were common places working-class people obtained inexpensive meals, likely at soda fountains or lunch counters that many pharmacies operated. The satire targets economic hardship during what appears to be the early 20th century, when poverty forced people to navigate survival with limited resources. The vagrant's specific knowledge of affordable prices becomes an oddly competent survival skill amid destitution—a darkly humorous commentary on Depression-era desperation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Story D if he's gone away,” said she, iood riddance, if you're asking me. I'm not a one to lic awake And weep for anybody's sake. There's better lads than he about! I'll wear my buckled slippers out A-dancing till the break of day. I'm better off with him away! And if he never come,” said she, “Now what on earth is that to me? I wouldn't have him bac I hope Her mother washed her mouth with soap. Dorothy Parker. Roughly Bound LAPY SETTLEMENT WORKER (to rough-looking “MY dear, I am ACtually all hot and BOTHered—I immigrant) : So you came over in the steerage? How mean I am honestly so MAD I could GARgle interesting! You know, I never would have suspected termilk because I think it is SIMply NAUscous you were a college man the way people who have just been MARried carry ON —— when you are right there LOOKing at them, do you EDICAL NOTE—When funnier-sounding ailments know what I mean? I mean I sort of dropped IN are invented, Listerine will cure them. CASurally to call on Tom and BETty the other day, my dear, because they got back from their HONeymoon last WEEK, and I mean it was HONestly TOO re- PULsive because they practicably could not keep their HANDS off each other, and the way they kept sort of SPRAYing each other with ill these enDEARing EP/taphs was POIsonous in the exTREME, my dear—TI mean it ACtually WAS! Beeause every five SEConds he would sort of CLUTCH her MADIy ind GURgle with the MOST idi OTic and ASinine expression on his COUNtenance I have honestly ever GAZED upon — did you EVer in your LIFE know of ANYthing so UTterly GHASTly, my « And IT mean [ was ACtually embarrassed to TEARS, no less, because WHAT could you SAY with them sort of SIT ting there with the MOST FAT uous expressions you have honestly EVer beHELD, my dear, simply PETting away for dear LIFE and GUSHing all these TENder SENtiments at each other like a couple of HOT springs! WELL, my dear, I HONestly think the whole thing is TOO revolting, because after all I think there’s a TIME and PLACE for EV'rything —I mean I ACtually DO! Lloyd Mayer. Top Form is Flo feeling since she married a title?” He Knew His Drug Stores! “} ow Vagrant: 1 HAVEN'T MAD ANYTHING TO EAT FOR TWO DAYS, MA’AM. WILL You LET ME HAVE NINETY-PIVE CENTS FOR A SANDWICH AND A CUP OF COPPER? “Right on the crest.” comicbooks.com