Life, 1928-09-06 · page 24 of 44
Life — September 6, 1928 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical comic strip and humor pieces from Life magazine's "Labor Day" issue. **The Main Comic: "She Was Simply Exhausted"** The satire mocks a specific female social type: a woman who claims to be exhausted but contradicts herself repeatedly. Though tired, she insists on going out to nightclubs and dancing rather than resting at home. Her speech is filled with vague emotional language ("terribly," "simply," "hectic") and contradictions—she's too tired to stay home but energetic enough for evening entertainment. The joke targets upper-class women's performative exhaustion and emotional dramatics. She uses fatigue as conversational currency while actively rejecting rest, suggesting her complaints are less about genuine tiredness than about maintaining a certain image or emotional volatility. Her partner grows increasingly baffled by her illogical demands. **Secondary Content:** Below is a humorous list of centenarians whose longevity tips wildly contradict each other (strict diet vs. eating anything; hard work vs. taking it easy), satirizing pseudo-scientific newspaper health reporting that claims to explain longevity while providing no consistent answers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
She Was Simply Exhausted Sue: My dear, I'm simply exhausted! I mean I'm so tired I could dropstitch at this point! He: Really? That's too bad, What have you been doing? Sue (vaguely): Oh, it’s just been too hectic all day for words, my dear, do you know what I mean? He: Gosh, you must be all worn out. Sue: Oh, no, I'm perfectly all right. I mean there’s not the slightest reason I shouldn't be, only don’t you know how it is sometimes? I mean things sort of come up until you're nearly frantic! He (baffled): Of course. It’s very an- noying. Sue: Annoying? My dear, I'm simply livid about it. I mean I simply can’t take those sort of things quietly the way some —_= people can because I guess I'm too temp’. amental or something so the result is | get all Aot and bothered and simply ex. Aausted, do you know what I mean? He (nervously): Then perhaps we hadn’t better go out tonight, if you'e feeling tired. Sue: Don't be ridic—I'd adore to, | mean I think it would be just the thin to sort of get my mind off things, sort of. He: But don’t you think it would rest you more if we just sat here and talked? Sue: I really don’t, my dear. I mean in the state I’m in I’ve simply got to get out and sort of get my mind off things, I mean I'd heaps rather just sit here with you if I weren't so darned tired and everything but if you don’t mind terribly I think a little excitement would be jus. the thing at this point. He: But if you're really terribly tired-— Sue: My dear, I'm simply exhausted but it’s perfectly absurd because I just take these things too seriously and I'm not going to be ridic about it and spoil your evening. I mean if you've planned to go to the Binge Club and dance after the theater or something I'm r'arin’ to go because I mean I've simply got to dis cipline myself and it’s perfectly absurd | should let myself get all worn out! He: Well, if you're sure you're not too tired —— Sue: My dear, I’m simply exhausted, no less! Come on—I can’t BEAR it! Let's GO! Lloyd Mayer, How to Live Forever (According to Latest Authentic News paper Reports) Dr. Annre Besant, 81, London, ascribes her longevity to meticulous abstemiouy ness in diet. Tom Sloan, 115, of Ponca City, Okla, ascribes it to moderation in dict. Sarah J. Irwin, 100, Sparta, Wis, ascribes her long life to the fact that she has always eaten anything she liked. Alice Van Sickle, 82, of Cardington, O., ascribes her longevity to hard and incessant work since early childhood. Otto Kikacziewski, 105, of Chester, P2, ascribes it to a lifelong habit of taking things easy. N Neenum, 105, of Mayetta, Kan, ascribes it to the fact that he never worked in his life. W. E. Farbstein. SUBJECT FOR DEBATE “1 see here where a fellow called Al Smith a yellow dog.” “Where does he preach?” comicbooks.com pf)