Life, 1927-12-01 · page 20 of 80
Life — December 1, 1927 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines **advertising and humor content** typical of early 20th-century Life magazine. **The Advertisement (Left):** Arrow Collars promotes "Good Solid Comfort" through a profile illustration of a well-dressed man. The pitch emphasizes that proper grooming—specifically a low-starched collar—conveys both physical comfort and mental confidence, marking a man of "good breeding." This reflects period anxieties about masculinity and social status through clothing. **The Humor Sections (Right):** - **"What's the Use?"** satirizes gift-giving futility: a man repeatedly hints he wants an alarm clock for Christmas but receives scarves, tie cases, and a knife instead—mocking both miscommunication and excessive gift-giving. - **"Dusty Answers"** collects absurd excuses and deflections (claims of being broke, not in love, etc.)—likely responses to unwanted requests. - **"A Christmas Alibi"** is poet Arthur Guiterman's comic verse about a man who never gives gifts to his beloved because every gift he *might* give, she claims to already own or cannot accept—a humorous exploration of romantic futility.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Good Solid Comfort THE unconstrained, natural ease in the manner of the man of good breeding is never hampered by his comfortable, right-fitting, low starched collar. It is this atmosphere and at-home- ness in one’s clothes that is, invariably, the marked characteristic of the well turned out man. There is a great deal in feeling as well as you look. That means mental as well as physical comfort. Dignity with comfort is quite im- possible of attainment unless you wear ARROW STARCHED COLLARS What's the Use? EC. 16—Cousin George asked what I wanted for Christmas and I told hi n alarm clock. Dec. 17—Hinted -to Aunt Sarah that I needed something to wake me up in the morning and she said an alarm clock would be just the thing. Dec. 18—Informed Jack that an alarm clock was the very best thing anybody could give me for Christ- mas. : Dec. 19—Requested wife not to give me a searf pin but to make it an alarm clock instead. Dec. 20—Let on to ten brothers at the lodge that I needed an alarm clock more than anything else in the world. Dee. —Received ten scarfs, three fancy tie cases, and one in- itialed pocket kn Lawson Paynter. Dusty Answers “J DON'T know—I'm a stranger here myself!” ; “Any other time I'd be glad to help you out but I'm dead broke my- self right now.” “I'm awfully fond of you but I'm not in love with any one.” “It’s genuine pre-war stuff.” “Moved—left no address.” A Christmas Alibi I NEVER brought a box of gloves To her I hold divinely fair, But that her voice, a sucking dove's, Announced that she had eighteen pair. I never offered sugared treats To her whose presence makes me glad, But that she grieved to own that sweets Were what her doctor most forbad. I never sent her roses red Or pinks that seraphim might pull, But that with deep regret she said That every vase and bowl was full. I never laid a sapphire blue Before my paragon of girls, But that she sighed, “I thought you knew I never wear a thing but pearls!" I never gave such gifts to her, My sweetest chuck and dearest pal, And since you see what would occur In case I did, I never shall. Arthur Guiterman, comicbooks.com <<