So, once upon a time, somebody came up with these discs of glass which could be used to focus the sun’s rays into a burning point. THEN someone realized they could be used to make small things look bigger, and, over the years, loupes and telescopes and microscopes and binoculars came to be. SomewhereContinue reading “Looking Glass”
Tag Archives: Postcards
To Make a Long Story Short
We have examined, from time to time, the pleasure our postcard artists took in the infinite mixings and matchings of romance, but we have been primarily concerned with girth. The artists found other ways to express romance in inches. (Mind. Gutter. Please.) The tall, thin man and the short, round woman were veryContinue reading “To Make a Long Story Short”
The Seven Deadly Virtues
Today, we are going address unfair animadversions against human qualities. I realize that this material has been presented from other angles, but bloggery can be a haven for unpopular viewpoints. Why don’t people speak more pleasantly about WRATH: Despite its popularity on social media, recognition of this as a major virtue goes backContinue reading “The Seven Deadly Virtues”
Boat Season Coming Up
Spring is here now, more or less. (One forecaster spoke of snow this weekend, but it IS only April.) It is the time of year when folks start getting out on their boats again. And seasonal though they might be, boats were regarded with just as much joy by postcard cartoonists as cars. Continue reading “Boat Season Coming Up”
More Is More
One of the questions which comes up in considering of old-time comedy is “Why that?” Why do some things come up in jokes more than others? As noted hereintofore, we have plenty of cartoons about dogs peeing and horses pooping: how did we decide THAT was funny, when each animal obviously does both? CustomerContinue reading “More Is More”
Come Here Often?
The cartoonists who commented on life through postcards were of course alive to the constant comedy of romance, but the awkward first blushes to the elderly couple getting a divorce after seventy-five years of marriage because enough is enough. One facet of the procedure which has gotten attention from comics and philosophers in allContinue reading “Come Here Often?”
SCREEN SCROOGES: The Charity Solicitors
This lunatic, in letting Scrooge’s nephew out, had let two other people in. They were portly gentlemen, pleasant to behold, and now stood, with their hats off, in Scrooge’s office. They had books and papers in their hands, and bowed to him. “Scrooge and Marley’s, I believe,” said on of the gentlemen, referringContinue reading “SCREEN SCROOGES: The Charity Solicitors”
Hey-ho!
I hate it, hate it, hate it when a certain kind of joke is explained to me. The manner of joke of which I speak is the joke which has been there in clear sight, sometimes for years, and I simply failed to recognize it. Having a humor grenade go off in my faceContinue reading “Hey-ho!”
Volume of Memories III
Among the books I own which I preserve not because I’ll ever read them is a slender volume on why we must enforce the local laws against feeding wild birds. This was given to me by someone who found it disgusting, and wanted me to read itso I would understand what intolerant people thereContinue reading “Volume of Memories III”
Looking Ahead
I know what you’re thinking, after seeing that postcard, but no, we are not continuing our discussion of how hilarious our ancestors considered the spanking od miscreants. I have been told my last discussion was in questionable taste, and we know that is a death sentence in today’s world of humor. I thought weContinue reading “Looking Ahead”
Blogsy Babbles 