Life, 1929-04-26 · page 31 of 36
Life — April 26, 1929 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several brief humorous anecdotes typical of early 20th-century satirical magazines, plus a Dentyne chewing gum advertisement. The cartoons mock workplace dynamics and social situations: an office boy so invisible his boss doesn't recognize him; a waiter's forgetfulness about whether a customer received their drink; and a burglar asking for a pillowcase to carry stolen goods—treating the theft with absurd politeness ("Sorry, Guv'nor"). The main illustration shows a burglar ransacking a bedroom while the occupant sleeps, captioned with the burglar's polite request for the pillowcase, satirizing genteel British speech even in criminal circumstances. The page's lower half shifts to a Dentyne advertisement featuring a smiling woman, promoting teeth-whitening through chewing gum—a typical period ad equating white teeth with "success and popularity." The humor reflects pre-WWI British/American satirical sensibilities: workplace awkwardness, servant/class dynamics, and absurdist situations presented without elaborate setup.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Orrice Boy: The boss is beginning to take an interest in me. Heap Crerx: Is he? “Yes; he asked me yesterday if I worked here.” —Pearson's. “All sorts of new gadgets are appear- ing in bathrooms,” says a writer. One of the most useful, we understand, is a tuning-fork placed within easy reach of the bather. —Humorist, Cellarette, sideboard or ocean steamer k com pe without Abbott's Bitters. Aids digestion. | Sa mple mail, 25 ets. C. W. Abbott & Co, Baltimore, Md. “Waiter, about half an hour ago I ordered a drink. Now, did you bring it, did I drink it or didn't I order it?” —M. J]. T. Voo-Doo. Two men who raided the cloak- room of a hotel in Essex were chased by waiters, The guests realized that something unusual was happening Burctar: Sorry, Guv’nor, I shall be wantin’ that pillow-slip for this stuff. when they saw the waiters hurrying. —Punch (by permission). —Humorist. Live is published every Friday, simultaneously in the United States, addressed envelope. Lire does not hold itself responsible for the loss or Great Britain, Canada and British Possessions. Title registered in non-return of unsolicited contributions. U.S. Patent Office. The tezt and illustrations in Live are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights in Great Britain apply to Live, Rolle House, Breams Buildings, Fetter Notice of change of address should reach this office two weeks prior Lane, London, E. C., England. The foreign trade supplied from Live's to the date of issue to be ed. All communications should be London Office, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, London, E. C. addressed to LIFE, 598 Avenue, New Yor No contributions will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and Yearly Subscription Rate, $5.00 (Canadian, 35. 0; Foreign, $6.60). It keeps teeth white Everybody likes a winning smile! Suc- cess and popularity always seem to fol- low, too! And it’s your teeth that make ormar your smile. Never let them grow dull—be proud to show them in your smile. Chew delicious Dentyne every day — it’s the gum that keeps teeth gleaming white. You'll love the flavor, and Dentyneis the highest quality chew- ing gum made today. Ché and smile/ comicbooks.com