Life, 1929-01-04 · page 14 of 36
Life — January 4, 1929 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three humor pieces targeting early 20th-century social attitudes: **"Next"** mocks divorce proceedings through a wife's claim that her husband talks in his sleep—a satirical jab at the legal absurdities required to obtain divorce. **"Quick and Cheap"** darkly jokes about a cop telling a pedestrian to wait for traffic before crossing, only for the pedestrian to respond they're committing suicide instead—gallows humor about urban danger. **The illustration** shows a couple where the man says "Yes—I believe I am becoming air-minded," likely referencing the then-novel aviation craze and perhaps suggesting romantic distraction or absent-mindedness. **"Thoughts of a Man..."** is a lengthy monologue by someone breaking up with a girlfriend, revealing period attitudes about casual dating, male entitlement, and dismissive treatment of women's feelings. The tone reflects contemporary male cynicism toward relationships.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEXT Wire (to husband): “I'm suing you for divorce.” Huspano: “Yeah? And what evidence have you got?” Wire: “Plenty. I've made talking movies of what you've been saying in your sleep.” QUICK AND CHEAP Cop at Busy corner (to pedestrian): “Hey, you! Wait for the lights before you cross.”” Pepestrtan: “It’s all right, officer. I'm committing suicide.” “Hey! Stop patting that dawg!” Thoughts of a Man Who Has Decided to Give Up a Girl Sue needn’t think I'm so hard up I have to stick around when she acts as if it bored her to death every time I see her let her go out with these wet smacks if she wants to I hope she enjoys herself I'll bet she'll be sorry when she realizes I've given her the air they're all alike the don’t appreciate a regular guy I'm through b'lieve me I am Td like to see any girl make a bum outa me I would she needn't think she’s the only girl in the world there's just as good fish in the sea as ever were caught I wonder how she felt when I didn’t call her up last night as usual I bet she did some heavy thinking I won- der if she.stayed home I wonder what she’s doing now prob'ly she’s sorry as hell I know she’s fond of me but she needn't think I'm going to stand her damned in- difference no sir I'm through I wonder if } she went out with that pipsqueak Jed / Fimp last night how she can see anythin, in that bimbo beats me but that’s a al all over they haven't any discrimination as long as it’s somebody to have a date with they don’t care who it is I'm a lot better off not having her on my mind anyways now I'm through and damned glad of it I wonder if she noticed I didn’t call her up I know she’s damned fond of me I don’t s’pose I ought to be rude and break off all of a sudden it'd make her think I was sore at her or something and that's ridic’lous I’m not sore at her I just don’t mean to stand for her damned indif'rence that’s all they don’t think anything of you when you let em walk all over you well hell’s bells what's the diff I’m a lot better off not having her on my mind He: Yes—I believe I am becoming air-minded. Lloyd Mayer. comicbooks.com