Life, 1928-01-26 · page 31 of 34
Life — January 26, 1928 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life (a major American satirical magazine) contains short humorous anecdotes reflecting early 20th-century social attitudes. **Key Jokes:** 1. **"Her Shock-Absorbers"**: A Norwegian strongman performed by smashing paving stones on his wife's head. When moved to smaller venues with multiple daily shows, he quit—not because his wife was injured, but because she was developing "fallen arches" from the repeated physical impact. The joke satirizes both vaudeville's brutal acts and the performer's callous indifference. 2. **"The Martyr"**: A new clergyman learns his church's 30-year verger has endured "good preachers and bad preachers—mostly bad"—yet remains Christian. The humor undercuts preachers' effectiveness while praising the verger's patience. 3. **Soldier's Letter**: A soldier requests his wife stop sending nagging letters, claiming he wants to "enjoy this war in peace"—absurdist humor about domestic complaints amid wartime. The page also includes period advertisements (Brooks Brothers clothing, Abbott's Bitters) and appears to be from approximately the World War I era based on military references.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PETRI WS MTT TPE NT Her Shock-Absorbers Tue Strong Man from Norway was booked on the Orpheum Circuit. His specialty was breaking paving stones with a sledge-hammer on his wife's head. It was a wow, as we used to say in the old country. Suddenly his bookings were switched, They put him on the small time, where he had to do four and five shows a day. He did it for several weeks, then can- celled his contract. “What's the mat- te they asked him. “Is your wife get- “Oh, no, it ‘isn't that,” apologized the man, “but I’m afraid she’s getting "—New York Graphic. Fully Described Sur is the kind of woman, we said in our bitterly intolerant way, who would think of something else to say and turn around to say it while going through a revolving door ahead of you. FLOWERS IN TH Ohio State Journal. —Meggendorfer Blatter (Munich). Wer heard two flappers talking the “ney! WHAT ARE YoU DOING UP THERE? 1-1 JUST WANTED TO SMELL THE 29 Revived Tue following preciously preserved ex- tract from a love letter written home to his wife by a soldier on active service will evoke tender memories in thousands of our former service men: “Don't send me no more nagging let- ters, Lettie. They don't do no good. I'm three thousand miles away from home, and I want to enjoy this war in peace.” —London Daily Express. Tablespoonful Abbott's Bitters. in sweetened water, after meals, 18 great ald to digesilon, Sample Hitters by mall, 25 cts. in stamps. C. W. Abbott & Co, Balt., Ma. The Correspondent Means Well—Though Somewhat Feebly Fievo Distaict item in the Chetopa Tnsccancs (Kan.) Clipper: “Mr. A. C. Stewart is building a fine hog house on his fari Pi We understand that his son William wife will move to the farm in the spring. —Detroit Free Press. LOWER BOX. Scientists in Siberia have discovered an elephant that has been petrified for forty thousand years, and we can't help other day. One of them said: “You We hope that law in Ohio is merely wishing that the people in the apart- don’t know Sue; she rubs a wicked lip suffering a transitory judicial insanity, ment above ours would trade their pair stick."—Florida Times-Union, —Arkansas Gazette. for this one.—Detroit Neis, Lire is published every Thursday, simultaneously in the United States, Great tritain, Canada and British Possessions. Title registered in U. Patent The test and ittustrations in Live are copyrighted. | For Reprint Rights is Great Britain opply to Lire, Rolle Howse, Breams Buildings, Fetter . EB. England. The foreign’ trade supplied from Live's Rolls House, Breams Buildings, London, addressed envelope. Lave does not hold itself responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited contributions. Notice of change of address should reach this ofice two weeks prior to the date of issue to be affected. All communications should be addressed to LIFE, 598 Ma wn Avenue, New York. Yearly Subscription Rate, $5.00 (Canadian, 85.80; Foreign, $6.60). tributions twill be returned unless accompanied by stamped end THe Martyr New Parson: TimTy YEARS VERGER OF TIKIs ONE crURCH! YOU MUST ITAVE SEEN MANY MINISTERS IN YOUR TIME. The Verger: £N ON ’RM ALL TOLD; GOOD PREACHERS AN’ BAD PREACHERS—MOST ON ’EM BAD. I'VE HEARD EM ALL; BUT, THANK GOD, I’M STILL A CHRISTIAN. —Bulletin (Sydney). ‘ ESTABLISHED 1818 flemens Farnishing ods, MADISON AVENUE COR. FORTY-FOURTH STREET. N.Y. Outfits for Winter Sport Send for Brooxs’s Miscellany BOSTON PALM BEACH NEWPORT QITTLE BUILDING PLAZA BUILDING AUORAIN BUILOING ‘Tatmont con. Boristen Coun Rene 220 Beurwe Avenve comicbooks.com