Life, 1929-03-15 · page 34 of 44
Life — March 15, 1929 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects brief satirical jokes and cartoons from early 20th-century Life magazine, targeting social conventions and gender roles of the era. **Key themes:** - **Women's fashion**: A quip about girls' extravagance—give them minimal freedom and they'll spend lavishly on clothes. - **Gender dynamics**: A woman boasting of noble descent is deflated by a man's wordplay; another wife is so captivated by a view she's rendered speechless, prompting her husband to buy the property. - **Class and manners**: Jokes about smoking restrictions in "smoking-rooms," reserve tables at restaurants, and social pretense. - **The Trotsky reference**: A dark topical joke—Leon Trotsky was frequently reported dead in Western press despite being alive; the humor comes from this being "good news" for him (a break from constant death rumors). The cartoons depict everyday scenarios: hunting, family life, restaurant service. The satire is gentle, targeting human foibles rather than serious politics—typical of Life's lighthearted approach to social observation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
32 Tins) Week’s Bright THoucHt: Give a girl an inch these days—and she'll make a frock. | —Pearson'’s. Vistrox: “This smoking-room is beautifully arranged.” Mr. Peck: “Yes; if only I were al- lowed to smoke in it, it would be fine!” —Answers. OURS rs ra Gotrer: Who's that laughing over there? Propicat: Father, ['ve a notion to settle down and go in for raising chickens. Fatuer: Better try owls. hours would suit you better. —Tatler. Their Jones: crown.” Warren: “Thank you, sir. I sup- pose you want me to reserve a table for you?” Jones: “No, I don't. I shall come in here in about ten minutes’ time with two ladies, and I want you to tell me that all the tables are engaged.” —Staffordshire Sentinel. “I say, waiter, here’s half a Sue: “I'll have you know I'm de: scended from nobility.” He: “My! What a descent.” —London Calling. Cappie: Of, that’s my girl. I can't afford to take ‘er to the pictures this week. Game Warpen: Hey, young man, what's the idea of hunting with a last year’s license? Bites: Oh, I'm only shooting at the birds I missed last year. —Lafayette Lyre. Mr. Trotzky was reported yesterday as being dangerously ill. This is quite a break for Mr. Trotzky, who is usu- ally reported dead, —New York Evening Post. Maybe this Scotch thrift thing is overdrawn: So far we have not heard of a wwo-kilt suit. —Detroit News. Love at first sight. —London Opinion. “Now, Walter, what is the term for someone who writes his own name on a cheque belonging to someone else?” “Well, father got seven year —Everybody's Weekly. Mr. Ricustan: “How do you like this place? Shall we buy it?” His Wire: “Oh, it’s perfectly lovely! The view from this balcony is so fine that it leaves me speechless.” “Then we'll buy it.” —Answers. Our Reviseo Provers: A bird in the hand is not good table manners. —Pearson's. comicbooks.com in ( i: Wik Ee) Ly