Life, 1929-08-02 · page 25 of 40
Life — August 2, 1929 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical essay and two cartoons from *Life* magazine's humor section. **"Thoughts While Shaving"** is a stream-of-consciousness monologue by Robert Lord capturing a man's anxious morning—worrying about his appearance, car payments, financial instability, and romantic failures. The humor lies in the self-deprecating rambling and the contrast between trivial concerns (whiskers, a double chin) and serious ones (debt, unemployment). The **top cartoon** depicts two men conversing near a rural cabin, likely discussing economic hardship. The caption references the country "lingering on the verge of peace"—likely referencing post-WWI or Depression-era uncertainty. The **bottom cartoon** shows a man with tools near his house, defending himself to his wife that he *did* look for work. The satire critiques both unemployment and marital discord, suggesting the economic crisis made finding jobs difficult while straining home life. Overall, the page satirizes 1920s-30s economic anxiety, male inadequacy, and domestic tension during uncertain times.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thoughts While Shaving Every morning I shave ‘em off and every morning here they are again. Terrible waste of energy. If all the whiskers I've shaved off were laid end to end—when you come to the end of a perfect day. Aw, shut up. What are you singing for? What have you got to be happy about? I'm even de- veloping a double chin, Double, dou- ble toil and trouble. There'll be plenty of trouble if I don’t pay last month's installment on my car. Clap hands, here comes the sheriff! Heigh ho, be- sides getting fat, I’m losing my mind. What's the difference. As long as | don’t lose my fatal way with women. What does it matter if skies are grey —aw, shut up, Bet it'll rain today sure because I got a shine last night. That's not all I got last night. No wonder I'm falling apart this morn- ing. Gin with beer chasers isn’t a gentleman's drink. When are you go- ing to pull yourself together and be- gin to amount to something? When are you going to buckle down—get to work, save some money and try to justify your existence? I’m dying and you ask me riddles. . . . Thank Pete, that’s finished until tomorrow. —Robert Lord. a KAY, BY “Yes, Senor, this old place has changed a lot—why for two years now the whole country's been lingering on the verge of peace.” “Is Grace generous?” Next time a man tells you that talk “Is she! Why that girl would give is cheap, ask him if he knows how you the tan off her back.” much a session of congress costs. “Doggone my woman, She can't say I didn't look for a job!” comicbooks.com