Life, 1929-03-08 · page 17 of 44
Life — March 8, 1929 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon ("Mind your manners, Alfred"):** Shows two figures at a zoo viewing elephants behind bars. The caption warns against staring rudely at the animals. This is a straightforward etiquette joke about teaching children proper behavior in public spaces—a common theme in early 20th-century domestic humor. **"Domestic Drama" and "Letters of a Modern Father":** These are comedic domestic sketches typical of Life's satirical content. The drama depicts a couple managing a household move, debating what possessions to keep or discard. The letter section offers humorous paternal advice about finances and marriage, satirizing contemporary middle-class concerns about money management and spousal independence. **Bottom Cartoon ("Latest Model—The observation car"):** Depicts an overcrowded, chaotic automobile, satirizing the rapid proliferation of cars in American society and traffic congestion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Domestic Drama March 3 The White House Grace: I declare to goodness! [ just don’t know where to begin. We accumulated so much stuff since we've lived here. Cat: (Looking up from his news- paper) Well, just’ save everything. Ir'll all come in good play some time. Grace: Yes, I know, but we have to throw some things away; things we'll have no earthly use for in a smaller house. Suppose you start: packing the dishes. and mind you wrap them well. I don't want a single piece of this set broken. (She throws down some ex- celsior and old newspapers at Cal's feet) Now about the books. Do you want to move all of these? (She points to stacks of volumes). Cat: We'd better take them. Maybe I'l have time to read some day. Grace: (Dusting and packing books in a large wooden box). You'll have no earthly use for these govern- ment reports covering your adminis- tration, will you? Cat: Find room for them some- where. Possibly I'll need them. Grace: What about these old cal- endars? Car: Take them. Grace: And this “Complete Educa- tion in One Volume” we bought for John. You know, he never did use it. Cat: Keep it anyway. Grace: Well, what shall I do with those rickety dining room chairs? The cost of upholstering is so high, I don’t believe it would pay us to have them repaired. “Mind your manners, Alfred—don't stare in his face.” Cat: Don’t throw them away; they'll make good kindling some cold morn- ing. Grace: As to your clothes. Do you want to keep that old cowboy outfit you wore so much that summer. I've a notion to give it to some old-clothes man or someone. You'll never wear it again. Cat: Well, now, I'm not so sure. Better stick the whole thing in the van some place. Maybe I'll put it on around home occasionally. Grace: Heaven preserve us! Cat: If I'd known moving was go- ing to be this much of a job, I'd been President again! A word of advice—Don’t give it Latest Mopet—The observation car. The Letters of a Modern Father My Dear Son: Your request for my advice on your going into what you refer to as the securities racket got buried under a stack of bad accounts on my desk. However, I am now advising you by air mail to open an office right away. You will recall that last year, when you were so run down after your va- cation, the doctor ordered complete rest and quiet. He told me privately that unless you stopped taking vaca- tions you would not live very long. He said relaxation was killing you. If you rent an office now and put a sign on the door saying, “Investment Securities”, and spend eight hours a day there you will get the rest and quiet you need. I note you speak of the danger of losing money in dealing in securities. The danger is slight for I do not in- tend to give you any. You also say you do not like to use your wife’s money. That is extremely honorable in you. In fact, it is the only attitude a man can take whose wife is too smart to let him have any. As for your scruples against letting her support you any longer, that is unfortunate at this time when there is nobody else to do it. Your Affectionate Father, McCready Huston. No enclosure. comicbooks.com