For the Love o’ Lil: The Picture Story of an American Family
In 1926, under his long-term contract to produce a cover per week for Liberty magazine, Leslie Thrasher introduced a signature cast of characters that appeared each week, telling a serialized story through his illustrations. Liberty touted its new cover serial as “something no magazine has ever done before…Heretofore, all magazine covers have been disconnected pictures.” To help readers follow the plot from week to week, a short story summary was printed in each issue. (Liberty magazine, June 19, 1926, pp. 69-70).
“For the Love o’ Lil” centers around the lives of Lil Morse and Sandy Jenkins and includes recurring characters from their extended family and social circles. The serial follows the couples’ adventures through courtship, the ups and downs of married life, the antics of their offspring with the neighborhood children, and the complex dynamics of relationships with in-laws. The goal was to show a typical modern American family whose eccentricities and foibles would attract readers each week. Thrasher used himself as the model for Lil’s father, Robert E. Lee Morse.
Liberty further engaged readers by running contests for best titles, and later, for suggested storylines. The model proved successful and “For the Love o’ Lil” became a popular hallmark of the publication for many years, resulting in a 1930 film adaptation starring the flapper Sally Starr.
Leslie Thrasher
Leslie Thrasher first began contributing covers to Liberty in 1924, and in 1926 he was offered a contract to create a cover per week at the rate of $1,000 per week. Going against the advice of his friend Norman Rockwell, Thrasher accepted the contract, agreeing to complete a weekly cover for six years – an immensely challenging endeavor requiring that both new ideas and new artwork be produced at an extremely rapid pace. The continuing storyline of the cover serial “For the Love o’ Lil” helped Thrasher keep up with the constant demand for new images.
Due to declining circulation, Liberty terminated Thrasher’s contract in 1932. A few years later in 1936, Thrasher died from pneumonia caused by smoke inhalation from a fire in his home, which also destroyed much of his original artwork. An incredibly prolific artist, Thrasher had created more than 360 covers in his lifetime for various publications, including 23 covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Thrasher’s first Post cover, Conference on the Mound, and his last, Two Men in Deck Chairs, are both part of The Illustrated Gallery’s collection.
Leslie Thrasher was born in Piedmont, West Virginia. He studied art at the Philadelphia Academy and at the age of 16, won a scholarship that allowed him to study in Paris. Upon his return to the United States, Thrasher studied with Howard Pyle in Wilmington, Delaware and briefly worked as a portrait painter before moving to New York City to begin his commercial career producing illustration for magazines and advertising agencies. Thrasher also served in World War I, where he was assigned work as a camouflage painter.
Artwork in The Illustrated Gallery Collection
The Illustrated Gallery collection includes 56 original paintings from the “For the Love o’ Lil” Liberty cover serial. By arranging the artwork in chronological order with a brief summary of the accompanying story, we aim to contextualize each image and to help collectors follow the broader narrative and evolution of Lil and Sandy’s relationship.
Each image is linked to the individual artwork page, where cataloguing and further information, including am image of the fully story segment text published in Liberty, is available for each artwork.
The full collection of available works in the For the Love o’ Lil series is viewable here. To be alerted to new acquisitions in this series, be sure to sign in and add the genre collection to your “Want List.”
“She Loves Me…She Loves Me Not”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published June 19, 1926.
Sandy forgot that today is Lil’s birthday and Lil is secretly upset. Sandy can’t figure out why Lil is sulking and picks a few daisies as a peace offering and begins pulling off the petals one-by-one, playing “She loves me; she loves me not.” The first flower comes out “she loves me not,” just when Junior jumps out from his hiding place behind the tree, startling Sandy with his insults. (Liberty magazine, June 19, 1926, p. 68)
This cover illustration was the first to be included in Liberty’s weekly title contest, where the magazine awarded a cash prize for the best title submitted by a reader. Mrs. J. D. Dickson of San Diego, California provided the winning title: “The First Jolt on the Rocky Road to Doubling (Dublin)” (Liberty magazine, July 24, 1926, p. 59)
“Some Hot Air (Tune) from the Open Spaces”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published July 24, 1926
Sandy, Lil, and their friends gather on the front porch of the Morse home to sing. They began in the late afternoon, but continued to after midnight, disturbing poor Robert (“Pop”) Morse as he tried to balance the books for his retail coal and real estate business. (Liberty magazine, July 24, 1926, p. 59)
This cover illustration was included in Liberty’s weekly title contest, where the magazine awarded a cash prize for the best title submitted by a reader.
“At The End of A Perfect Play”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published August 7, 1926
Robert (Pop) Morse returns home from his work at the real estate office after the successful sale of a corner lot on Main Street and finds Lil and Sandy on the porch swing. Pop invites the bored Lil to a baseball game, to which Sandy invites himself (much to the dismay of Pop). A nervous Sandy is excited about the prospect of holding Lil’s hand in the grandstand, but Pop smartly sat himself between the couple and had a wonderful time cheering on his home team. (Liberty magazine, August 7, 1926, p. 42)
This cover illustration was included in Liberty’s weekly title contest, where the magazine awarded a cash prize for the best title submitted by a reader.
“Roses with Mourning Due”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published September 18, 1926.
Lil receives an unexpected flower delivery at the Morse home, while a jealous Sandy glowers in alarm and disapproval. Lil ignores Sandy as she happily unwraps the large and expensive bouquet of roses, discovering from the card that the generous gift is from Sandy’s rival, Mr. Babe Dolan, an athletic lifeguard. (Liberty magazine, September 18, 1926, p. 55)
This cover illustration was included in Liberty’s weekly title contest, where the magazine awarded a cash prize for the best title submitted by a reader.
“The Bad News”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published October 2, 1926
Sandy glowers as he sits at the table watching his rival Babe Dolan, the athletic lifeguard, flirt with Lil. Lil is entranced as Babe promises to make her a champion swimmer and the two are oblivious to the arrival of the waiter with the check, which Sandy reluctantly pays with nearly all of the remaining money in his wallet. (Liberty magazine, October 2, 1926, p. 54)
This cover illustration was produced right after Liberty ceased their title contest for readers.
“Two is Company”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published November 6, 1926
Sandy takes Lil to a football game between his Alma Mater, Jefferson, and their rival, the Bolling Eleven. Craving affection from Lil, Sandy bets a kiss against a five-pound box of candy that his Alma Mater would win. When Sandy’s team won and he tried to collect his kiss in the bleachers, Lil blushes and protests, “Crazy, I’m not going to kiss you here– before the whole world!” As Sandy leads Lil away from the crowd in the hopes of collecting his kiss, Lil abruptly stops to talk to Mr. Babe Dolan, a football hero and lifeguard who was Sandy’s primary rival for Lil’s affection at the beach that summer. After waiting thirty minutes, Sandy scornfully walks away, remarking “Aw, keep your old kiss! I can get along without it.” (Liberty magazine, November 6, 1926, p. 64)
“Hearts and Flowers”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published December 11, 1926
Sandy called on Lil one evening, only to find that his suspicions were true – Mr. Hammerschlosser, the aging and wealthy widower, was competing with Sandy for Lil’s attention. Though he had planned and rehearsed a speech to woo her back, Sandy lost his nerve after spotting the large bouquet of flowers from Hammerschlosser. As he sinks into a chair, holding his head in his hands, Lil looks on with sympathy. (Liberty magazine, December 11, 1926, p. 54
“No, I can never be Mrs. Hammerschlosser!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published January 22, 1927.
Blissful in her recent engagement to Sandy, Lil spends an evening at home knitting him a pair of green zigzag sport hose. Lil’s kid brother, Junior, briefly disrupts the serenity of the scene by rushing into the room with his dog, asking who she was expecting to come by this evening. After hearing that Mr Hammerschlosser, the aging and wealthy widower, was on his way, Junior bolts from the room. Lil hides Sandy’s socks under a couch pillow as she hears Mr. Hammerschlosser kick the snow off his boots on the front porch before ringing the bell.
Beaming over a bouquet of red roses, Mr. Hammerschlosser makes himself comfortable in Pop’s chair as he tells her how much he missed her on his recent travels. Eventually, Mr. Hammerschlosser pulls out a purple velvet box from his pocket and sinks to his knees as he asks Lil to marry him. Lil looks at the pearls in the box and rises abruptly, and dramatically exclaims, “No, I can never be Mrs. Hammerschlosser!” (Liberty magazine, January 22, 1927, p. 69)
“Hearts are Trumps”
Pop Morse is immersed in his income taxes as Lil reminds her father that he promised to be a fourth player at her bridge game. Sandy arrives having just made another payment on Lil’s engagement ring, and nervously prepares for his first evening with Ma and Pop since a recent quarrel with Lil that had estranged the couple for two weeks.
As the couples gather around the card table, they bet a straw hat over which team will win (Pa would never play for real money). Sandy and Lil play footsie under the table as they play a few hands while Ma muddles through without her glasses, angering Pa. (Liberty magazine, March 19, 1927, p. 70)
“The Green-Eyed Monster of Jealousy”
Sandy is feeling gloomy while remembering how he saw Lil at the theater a few nights ago with her stepbrother, Walter, who was the black sheep of the family. Sandy disapproved of Walter, thinking that “He looks like a bum.” and “No decent girl should be seen with him.” Lil often went out in public with Walter, despite being embarrassed by him. Sandy went to his favorite diner, the Goldenrod, near the movie theater, to think before meeting Lil. Though he tried not to be mad at Lil as she kissed him hello, “the Green-eyed Monster of Jealousy was swooping up in back of him!” (Liberty magazine, April 9, 1927)
“Choosing the Love Nest”
Lil and Sandy ride the Pine Ridge Realty bus, which takes them along a desolate stretch of bumpy road until they reach the future site of what the realtor calls “an exclusive suburban development.” The development looked nothing like the brochure, which showcased sketches of a thriving community filled with English manor houses. Much to Lil’s surprise and dismay, Sandy enthusiastically tells the enterprising realtor of his intent to purchase a muddy lot filled with puddles. (Liberty magazine, June 18, 1927, p. 56)
“Their Romantic Honeymoon”
Newlyweds Lil and Sandy are on their honeymoon at Niagara Falls. Lil shops for souvenirs and sends gifts to loved ones at home, excitedly enclosing her new “Mrs. Sandford Jenkins” calling cards. After exploring the town, the couple descends to the foot of the falls where they gaze up at a the rushing water as a rainbow appears, prompting romantic dreams of a future filled with wealth and happiness. (Liberty magazine, July 9, 1927, p. 50)
“Honeymooning at Greenville”
Sandy and Lil are on their honeymoon, which after an expensive stay at a mosquito-inhabited resort in Greenville, has not been going particularly well. Their disappointing fishing trip left them with more fly bites than fish bites. The newlyweds were eager to board the train, settle in to their sleeping car, and journey to their next destination. When Sandy attempts to bring Lil the glass of water she requested, the train suddenly jerks and ice water spills on a sleeping gentleman in the next berth. “‘Oh! Oh!’ Lil gasped, a witness to her husband’s social blunder. And she wished she were deaf!” (Liberty magazine, July 23, 1927, p. 45)
“I Promised My Wife”
Traveling on a business trip, Sandy ventures out of his cut-rate hostelry to explore the town. After buying an ice cream cone and sitting on a park bench to listen to a band, Sandy starts heading back to his hotel. On the way, he runs into a boisterous group of business associates, including Sam Bailey, who encourages Sandy to drink and sing with them back in his hotel room. Sandy is teased when he refuses a drink, stating “I promised my wife–” (Liberty magazine, September 24, 1927, p. 57)
“Lil Watches Her Step!”
Lil takes out her shorthand book as her boss approaches, expecting to take notes. To her surprise, he presents her with “a belated Halloween present” of a gold vanity box and invites her out to lunch. Lil instinctively plays with her engagement and wedding rings as she considers what Sandy would think. Hoping her boss doesn’t smell the odor of tuna fish emanating from her desk, she accepts the gift but declines the invitation, fibbing that she already dined that afternoon. (Liberty magazine, November 5, 1927, p. 83)
“Her Little Caveman”
Sandy walks home carrying groceries after a day of running errands and making payments on Lil’s engagement ring, and a washing machine and breakfast nook they recently purchased for their apartment. Lil rushes to greet him at the door, presenting him with a tray of homemade fudge and excitedly tells him about how all of the attachments on their new vacuum cleaner will save them money in the long run. Sandy begrudgingly begins the small household chores as Lil innocently brings out the gold vanity case recently given to her by her boss. Sandy, noticing it was new, inquires where she got it. When he finds out it was a gift from Lil’s boss, he flies into a jealous rage, snatches the case away, leaps in the air, and stomps on it, crying out “He’s sweet on you, the old bug, and don’t you forget it!” (Liberty magazine, November 12, 1927, p. 55)
“Seven A.M. – All’s Well”
Lil sleepily awakes to her alarm clock buzzing at seven o’clock in the morning, to find her dog Bow-Legs sound asleep on her chest. She wakes the dreaming Sandy from his slumber, makes coffee, brings in the morning paper and milk, and turns on the radio in the sitting room. Sandy comes staggering in and the newlywed couple begins their morning calisthenics routine, following the instructions of the radio announcer “Now erect! Hands on hips. One, two, three, four. You, too, standing there with a yawn!” Lil sweetly teases Sandy and he gives her a dirty look in return, which goes unnoticed as Lil admires her reflection in her new antique mirror. (Liberty magazine, December 3, 1927, p.54)
“We Prefer Cigarets”
With only six days left before Christmas, Lil and her mother make their way through the jostling crowd of Saturday afternoon shoppers on Main Street. They stop by a candy shop to order refreshments of hot chocolate and saltines. As Mrs. Morse heads home in a taxi, Lil continues her hunt for the perfect gift for Sandy since it is their first Christmas together as husband and wife. After several hours with no luck, Lil spots a Turkish water-pipe in the window of The London Smoke Shop. She admires an antique meerschaum pipe, but is appalled at the ninety-eight dollar price tag, exclaiming, “Well, it may be historic–quite classic, in fact; but we prefer cigarets [sic]!” (Liberty magazine, December 17, 1927, p. 74)
“Crashing the Gate”
Sandy confidently struts down the street, dapperly dressed in pressed trousers, a derby hat, new shoes, and a waxed mustache, as he contemplates an important business meeting in Chicago with the millionaire leather king John Henry next week, which he hopes will “seal his financial destiny.” With contract ready and sales pitch rehearsed, Sandy enters the great office building, where he greets the brunette receptionist who is instantly smitten with Sandy. Upon seeing photos of the attractive Lil folded around Sandy’s business paperwork, the receptionist is disappointed to learn that the handsome young man is already married. (Liberty magazine, March 10, 1928, p. 77)
“None but the Brave”
Lil awakens at two o’clock in the morning to a ruckus of a cat fight outside the window of her parents’ house, where the couple is staying while Mr. and Mrs. Morse are traveling upstate for a real estate convention. Sandy, undisturbed by the noise, snores loudly beside her. The cats finally quiet down, but Lil awakes again at three o’clock to the disturbing noise of breaking glass downstairs. Prodding Sandy awake with her slipper, Lil dramatically exclaims that there are burglars downstairs. Sandy bravely grabs his father-in-law’s Spanish War gun from the guest room mantel, kisses Lil, and tiptoes out into the hall and down the stairs. “Trust me to protect you,” he states, “None but the brave deserve the fair.” (Liberty magazine, March 31, 1928, p. 60)
“And Why Not?”
As Mr. and Mrs. Morse leave for a date night at the local lodge, Lil and Sandy spend an evening in front of the fireplace at the Morse home. Sandy turns on sentimental music, gathers marshmallows and a toasting fork, and lights the logs in his father-in-law’s fireplace. The fireplace’s golden glow becomes a picture frame for the couple’s dreams of their future son. Sandy excitedly imagines their baby going to college and being the “head of every class, scholarships galore, and captain of basketball, hockey, crew, and football.” Little Sandy is also imagined to be a brave soldier and even serve as future president of the United States. “Dreams of their son…red embers on the hearth…Their fireplace fantasy!” (Liberty magazine, April 7, 1928)
“The Doctor Calls”
Dr. Howard, the Morse family doctor, is caught in traffic and runs late to his house call appointments. It is Saturday afternoon and Dr. Howard is looking after his grandson, who distracts the doctor as he nervously navigates through traffic with his car (he’s still more comfortable driving a horse and buggy, after all). Finally, Dr. Howard makes it to the Morse family home, where a worried and pregnant Lil had all but given up hope of his arrival. The doctor and Lil were close friends, as he had known her since birth. ‘“Now, just stop your worrying,’ he told her after an old-fashioned chat. ‘Everything is going to turn out beautifully.’”(Liberty magazine, May 5, 1928, p. 50)
“Mother Knows Best”
Mrs. Morse was very excited to become a grandmother for the first time and told all of the neighbors the exciting news. Mr. Morse was a bit more reluctant to become a grandfather, anticipating long nights of babysitting a crying infant. Lil’s kid brother, Junior, shares his father’s sentiment at becoming an uncle.
It’s Mother’s Day weekend and Sandy is on a short business trip, hoping to return prosperous after recently learning the costliness of the various accessories required by a newborn. Lil spent the weekend shopping for baby clothes with her mother. At teatime, the two settle on the sofa as Mrs. Morse tries to calm Lil’s nerves about having a baby by stating, “Stop worrying. Mother knows best!” Lil instantly felt better and gained comfort from this phrase she had heard repeated throughout her life. (Liberty magazine, May 12, 1928, p. 58)
“Line’s Busy”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published June 16, 1928
Lil has returned home to her parents’ house after having her baby and the whole family tiptoes around trying not to disrupt the schedule of the sleeping newborn. Lil listens to child-rearing advice from the inquisitive neighbors that stop by and Sandy feels a bit useless and unappreciated, despite helping out with the diaper washing. Excited for her new duties as grandma, Mrs. Morse soothes the baby as he cries while Sandy staggers into the backyard with clothespins in his mouth to hand the freshly laundered baby clothes. (Liberty magazine, June 16, 1928, p. 71)
“Lullaby”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published July 14, 1928.
Lil worries about the effect of the summer heat on their sleeping newborn baby as Sandy crawls onto their apartment’s fire escape to watch the heat lightning. Awaking from his slumber, the baby begins to scream and Sandy attends to the baby, letting Lil get some needed sleep. Sandy sings a lullaby, and the sound of Sandy’s nasal voice cooing “Rock-a-bye, Baby” float across the city’s fire escapes and into the windows of restless neighbors. (Liberty magazine, July 14, 1928, p. 33)
“Fare Thee Well!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published August 4, 1928.
Having left her husband Sandy, Lil returns to the Morse family home with her two-month-old baby. Ma Morse worries about the family’s first divorce, as Pa dismisses her fears, certain that the young couple would patch things up and that Lil was just trying to scare Sandy. Ma claims she never liked Sandy, but Pa assures his wife that Sandy is a good man and has the prospect to become a successful businessman someday – the couple just married too young.
Lil walks in on the conversation and announces that she is returning to the city to gather more of her belongings and to try to get her old job back, but she has no intention of seeing a divorce lawyer. Meanwhile, Sandy struggles to adjust to his newfound bachelorhood, though he knows the separation was all his fault. Upset at the sight of two infant booties, Sandy rushes them over to his in-laws’ home, where he finds Lil happily playing with the baby as though they didn’t miss him at all. As Sandy struggles to say goodbye to his wife and baby, Lil has a change of heart, gulping “Sandy! How could we have been so foolish?” as the couple embraces their baby together.(Liberty magazine, August 4, 1928, p. 34)
“No Sir – ee! Woman Suffrage is the Curse of the Country”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published October 13, 1928
Great Uncle Ulysses Grant Simpson comes to visit Sandy and Lil and stays for dinner, an event that he considers the cornerstone of the family unit. Pounding his fist on the table, he exclaims, “If you didn’t have a baby or the womanly knack for preparing delectable meals, I would predict domestic destruction.” Uncle Ulysses, the namesake of the baby, continues his rant extolling the virtues of traditional values and gender roles, stating “Young women ruin their happiness by aping the men. Nature never intended the sexes to act so much alike.” Lil stands up against his old-fashioned ways, stating “Maybe I seem old fashioned, but I’m as modern as can be. Just because I don’t stand in City Hall Square and give speeches on birth control and tenement laws, don’t get the idea–” Once Uncle Ulysses calls woman suffrage as the “curse of the country,” Lil gasps and rushes from the room to hide her temper, shooting him a saucy gesture from the doorway. (Liberty magazine, October 13, 1928, p. 52)
“…Unto My Nephew, Sandford Jenkins, Jr…”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published January 26, 1929.
After the passing of Sandy’s Great-Uncle Ulysses, Sandy and Lil walk around the cluttered brownstone mansion he left behind as they await the will to be read. The young couple is shocked to learn that Uncle Ulysses left them $500,000, plus $25,000 to be spent within five years on pleasure. (Liberty magazine, January 26, 1929, p. 79)
A Liberty reader was awarded $50 for sending in the idea for this cover picture.
“Winter Vacation”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published February 2, 1929.
Lil and Sandy stop by New York city on their way to Florida. Elegantly dressed and driving a fancy car, the couple attracts a lot of attention, especially when Antoinette, Ulysses’ new nurse, speaks to the family in French. Lil and Sandy have begun to spend the money they recently inherited from Uncle Ulysses on a winter vacation and new luxuries, including fur coats and silk underwear. “I didn’t know how hard it was to spend real money,” Lil sighed, “Goodness knows it was easy enough to spend your old salary, but a windfall like this is enough to wear a girl out.” A porter at the train station greets the group as they board the Grape Fruit Limited to Florida. (Liberty magazine, February 2, 1929, p. 43)
A Liberty reader was awarded $50 for sending in the idea for this cover picture.
“Le Premier Pas” (The First Step)
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published February 9, 1929.
Sandy and Lil relax on a Florida beach, marveling at how wonderful it is to be rich, for the couple recently inherited a large sum of money from Sandy’s Uncle Ulysses. Lil marvels at her diamond rings, as Sandy counts the money in his wallet and tells Lil that he submitted their names to a society reporter hoping that would garner them some invitations to parties and card games. Lil and Ulysses’ new French nurse, Antoinette, walk the baby along the beach and down to the pavilion for lemonade. Sandy gazes at the chic Antoinette, whose beauty rivals his wife’s. Jealousy begins to creep up on Lil when she realizes she cannot understand what Antoinette says to Sandy in French: “It’s only the first step that costs.” (Liberty magazine, February 9, 1929, p. 60)
“The Eyes Have ‘It’”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published February 16, 1929.
Having just inherited a large sum of money from Uncle Ulysses, Lil and Sandy are on their winter vacation in Florida with baby Ulysses and his French nurse, Antoinette. Lil dreams about buying a lavish mansion with their newfound wealth, while Sandy expresses his desire to live more simply. He can’t take his eyes of Antoinette, whom he considers a “knockout” in her swimsuit that flatters her slim figure and red bandanna highlighting her gleaming long-lashed eyes. When Antoinette gets something in her eye, Sandy is quick to come to her aid with a handkerchief, which he gingerly dabs at the corner of her eye. (Liberty magazine, February 16, 1929, p. 50)
“Cuba Libre!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published March 2, 1929.
After spending a few weeks in Florida, Sandy and Lil continue their winter vacation in Havana, Cuba, where Lil goes on a shopping spree and loses track of how many shawls she bought and how much money she spent. In addition to shopping, they spent their three days in Havana visiting cabarets, cathedrals, cockfights, jai-alai tournaments, and winning at roulette. On their last night, Sandy has too many daiquiris and becomes entranced by a red-shawled tango dancer who whirls by to the clattering of castanets. (Liberty magazine, March 2, 1929, p. 76)
“East, West, Hame’s Best”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published March 16, 1929.
Lil and Sandy return home from their vacation, finding the late winter weather dreary after experiencing the warm sunshine of Florida and Cuba, but enjoying the simplicity of a home-cooked meal after indulging in rich hotel food. As Lil revels in the simple bliss of domestic life, Sandy nervously holds the secret that he just leased a giant marble-front mansion and wonders how Lil will take the news. “‘East, west, hame’s best,’ she sang to the Westminster quarter-hour tune. She didn’t know that she was a helpless victim of the great real estate bomb to be dropped into her usual cup of weak coffee in the morning!” (Liberty magazine, March 16, 1929, p. 56)
“Opera Night”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published April 13, 1929.
The opera is in town for one night only, making it the social event of the season. Sandy and Lil sit in their box seats, gazing at the less elite audience members in the orchestra and haughtily critiquing the wardrobe choices of other wealthy socialites. The couple excitedly watches as the Opera begins, and eagerly await the gathering in their home after the performance, to which they have invited the star, Paltrianni. Upon his arrival at the Jenkins’ home, Paltrianni comments on how extravagantly the couple lives. However, much to Lil’s horror, there was no lavish banquet awaiting them, for the butler Meadows was found drunkenly passed out on a chair next to the empty dining room. (Liberty magazine, April 13, 1929, p. 68)
“You Go There Yourself!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published May 25, 1929.
It’s summertime, and the heat is making everyone miserable, especially Lil, who just returned from getting a permanent-wave at Flynn’s Parisian Beauty Salon. An angry Sandy returned home early from the office and insinuated that Lil had been out with a lover. The couple had been fighting over money and Sandy’s jealousy over an imagined affair with Bodo, a business relation. Sandy’s words had broken a week of silence, but a new heated argument just erupted, resulting in Sandy yelling ‘I’m leavin’ home. You can go to hell!’ as he clipped her knee with his heavy valise. ‘You go there yourself!’ Lil flared.” (Liberty magazine, May 25, 1929, p. 49)
“The Days That Are No More!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published June 1, 1929.
Sandy sits in the overstuffed chair of the posh Union Club, a known retreat for bachelors (and men who wish they still were). After a particularly bad fight, Sandy had been staying at the Club for a week when he found out that Lil may have sailed for Europe with their baby. Regretting telling Lil to “buy a ticket to hell,” he woefully gazes at a photo of Lil and little Ulysses, missing his family as he cries and settles in for another lonely and quiet night at the Club. (Liberty magazine, June 11, 1929)
“You Tell Your Mother!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published June 22, 1929.
Sandy, away on a business trip, calls Lil to check in. The two discuss bills and talk about how much they miss each other before Lil eventually puts baby Ulysses on the phone so his father can say hello.(Liberty magazine, June 22, 1929, p. 58)
“The Milky Way”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published August 17, 1929.
Lil calls Sandy down to a nice breakfast to be served in her new fruit dishes, as she asks Sandy to bring her purse and materials to fix the carpet runner, which he forgets. Lil is horrified to find her sideboard key in baby Ulysses’ mouth and she proceeds to feed the baby while asking Sandy to give her updates on a recent triple suicide outlined in the newspaper. Ulysses pounds his cereal spoon, sending sprays of milk across the table onto Sandy’s elbow and Lil’s new fifty-dollar negligee. (Liberty magazine, August 17, 1929, p. 38)
“Ride Him, Cowboy”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published August 31, 1929.
Sandy takes Lil and baby Ulysses out for a day on the lake at the crowded Lakeside Bathing Casino. Sandy pulls out a surprise gift for the baby, a rubber sea monster that he purchased for $18.49. As Sandy struggles to inflate it, Lil cries “Oh you’ll burst! Get a pump!” Once the animal is inflated, Sandy discovers that he did not purchase a black seal, as he initially thought, but a “horse with a queer expression around the nose and a mane that jiggled.” Sandy names the goofy animal “Man o’ War” as Lil places the whimpering baby cowboy in the saddle. (Liberty magazine, August 31, 1929, p. 52)
“I’d Love To”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published November 2, 1929.
Sandy hides behind the newspaper at the breakfast table as Lil suddenly asks “Who is Marianthe? You talked about her in your sleep.” A blushing Sandy responds that she is his new secretary at the office and once again hides behind his newspaper as Lil continues to question him. Sandy leaves early to head to the office, thinking of Marianthe and the “gypsy fires in her gray-blue eyes.” Arriving at the office, they greet each other in the elevator and Marianthe cleans off Sandy’s desk before settling down next to him with her shorthand book. When Sandy states that he needs to write some personal checks before doing dictation, Marianthe offers to take care of the checks for him. (Liberty magazine, November 2, 1929)
“W-w-whats Zat?”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published December 14, 1929.
As Sandy and Lil retire to the sofa after dinner, Lil comments on how quiet Sandy has been after returning from his business trip. She informs her husband that a special messenger had delivered an anonymous letter warning Lil about the developing relationship between Sandy and his new secretary, Miss Demetropolos. Sandy tells Lil that she shouldn’t worry – it was just an office flirtation and Miss Demetropolos has left to join the stage in New York City. As Sandy settles back in to read his newspaper, Lil once again tries to get his attention to tell him that they are going to have another baby. Sandy “spluttered like a frightened parrot. ‘W-w-whats zat?’” (Liberty magazine, December 14, 1929, p. 48)
“Heavy Going”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published January 19, 1930.
Ma Morse tries to convince Lil to accompany her to the church fair, but Lil doesn’t want to venture out into the storm and prefers to enjoy the mid-afternoon quiet inside her home. Sinking into an over-stuffed chair in the sitting room, Lil warms her toes by the fireplace with her cat. Deciding to improve her mind, she settles in to read the book, the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, quickly falling asleep as the words on the page jumble together with her thoughts about the church fair. “Ye shades of Rome, this was heavy going!” (Liberty magazine, January 19, 1930, p. 71)
“Fisherman’s Luck”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published March 8, 1930.
Gwendolyn teases little Ulysses for having a bald head after she had taken scissors to it on Valentine’s Day. Lil had frantically taken Ulysses to the barber in an attempt to salvage the remains of his hair, but there wasn’t much left and now his head “felt like a sprouting cactus.” Gwen points to the aquarium on the table and ties a piece of cord to a ruler, attaches a safety pin, and dangles the line above the surface trying to catch a goldfish. “Gwen stood there, stubbornly waiting for the possible turn in her fisherman’s luck!” (Liberty magazine, March 8, 1930, p. 57)
“Water Babies”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published July 12, 1930.
Lil and Sandy’s neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Smithers, take their daughter Gwen and little Ulysses to the beach. The children play in the sand, collecting cigarette wrappers and shells, before Gwen orders Ulysses into the water. “‘I’m afraid,’ he whimpered. ‘Those waves are big.’ ‘Sit down!’ she shouted, watching a low wave sliding toward them…And he did sit down. But he tipped his legs high in the air when that wave came to eddy around his feet!” (Liberty magazine, July 12, 1930, p. 43)
Children Playing a Game of Soldiers and Indians
“Danger!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published June 28, 1930.
Gwendolyn and Ulysses sit on the front steps of the Jenkins house, wishing for rain so they could play in mud puddles. The nannie eventually gives them money to go get sodas, but when they walk around the corner, the troublemaking Gwen gets distracted by a yellow roadster and decides to hitch a ride. “She had a weak grasp on the extra tire, and her fingers were slipping as the car jerked away. For a block she clung there like a frightened blue monkey, but there was a curve ahead. Danger!” (Liberty magazine, June 28, 1930, p. 73)
“How! I’m Your Father!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published August 2, 1930.
Lil has given birth to a new blonde-haired blue-eyed baby boy weighing eight pounds and Ma Morse couldn’t be more excited to tell all of the neighbors about the arrival of her second grandchild. Sandy brings Ulysses to the hospital to meet his baby brother and Gwendolyn tags along. When Sandy arrives at the hospital and the nurse introduces him to his new son, Sandy pours out a drink from his flask and says to the baby, “How! I’m your father.” (Liberty magazine, August 2, 1930, p. 66)
“Hit and Run”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published February 7, 1931
As Jerry the iceman drives his big truck up the hill, splashing through the slushy puddles, bystanders continue to shout, “Got a hitch! Got a hitch!” Jerry pays no attention and remains unaware that the neighborhood children, Gwendolyn Smithers and Red Hancock, had hitched a ride on the tailboard of the ice truck. As their hands begin to slip and the children feel they can hold on no longer, they beg Jerry to stop the truck, but he doesn’t hear them. Finally, Red can hold on no longer and he falls to the asphalt. A red car strikes him and keeps driving, leaving Red limp in the street. (Don’t worry, we find out in the next installment that Red is okay!) (Liberty magazine, February 21, 1931, p. 67)
“The Hero”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published February 28, 1931.
After being struck by a car in a hit and run accident, Red Hancock is on his third day of recovery in the hospital. His relatives call to check in on him and promise to send elaborate gifts like a bicycle and an ice boat, leaving Red to quickly realize that the longer he takes to recover, the more presents he’ll get. His nurse, Miss Fox” brings Red eggnog as Mrs. Hancock and Red’s friend Gwendolyn visit his bedside. Gwen hails Red for his bravery, recalling how he fell off the back of the ice truck when they were hitching a ride on the tailboard. (Liberty magazine, February 28, 1931, p. 41)
“This Will Hurt You More Than Me”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published March 28, 1931.
Gwendolyn Smithers is loudly singing to herself and disrupting the household. When Mrs. Smithers tells her to quiet down, Gwen talks back and calls her mother a “crab” and a “cow.” As Gwen giggles and tries to run away, Mrs. Smithers catches her and says, “You’ve been bad since the second week in February when you dared Red Hancock to go hitching. He was nearly killed. Then you hit Jack Conforti in the ear and then you used up my nice new expensive cosmetics.” Mrs. Smithers proceeds to spank her daughter with a hairbrush, exclaiming “You can yell good and hard, too. This will hurt you more than me!” (Liberty magazine, March 28, 1931, p. 49)
“Teacher’s Picture”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published April 25, 1931.
Miss Wise tries to keep the children in her classroom focused during the day’s history lesson, but Gwendolyn Smithers continues to disrupt the class. After answering one of the teacher’s questions correctly, Gwen loses interest in the lesson and is caught drawing an unflattering portrait of Miss Wise – “an ugly, angular female with a pipe sticking out of her tightly inverted mouth.” (Liberty magazine, April 25, 1931, p. 37)
“You Moron!”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published May 23, 1931.
Lil and Sandy have their friends Mr. and Mrs. Saunders Shanks over to their house for a game of cards. After settling down for a game of auction, Lil criticizes Sandy for not raising her bet. As the game continues, Sandy upsets Lil by sounding just a little too pleased with himself after a particularly good hand. “Be careful,” Mr. Shanks warns Sandy, “I read about a wife who murdered her husband over a bridge table.” Just then, Lil screams, “You moron!” as she springs toward Sandy, clawing the air. (Liberty magazine, May 23, 1931, p. 46)
“Professor Zobo, The Tattooed Man”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published May 30, 1931.
The circus train arrived overnight and set up their great white tent, causing great excitement and anticipation to everyone in town, especially Gwendolyn Smithers, Red Hancock, little Ulysses, and their fellow classmates. After getting their balloons and peanuts, the children wandered toward the sideshow, where they witnessed Professor Zobo, a man covered in tattoos who skillfully swallowed a double-edged sword from tip to hilt, much to the childrens’ delight. (Liberty magazine, May 30, 1931, p. 48)
“A Tight Squeeze”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published August 29, 1931.
Lil and Sandy have been enjoying their summer weekends together as they begin to search for a new vacation home. However, Sandy is upset this Saturday when he learns that the couple is committed to attending the formal wedding of their friends Rita Hall and Reggie Lonsberry. Though Sandy tries to get out of it, Lil is convinced the affair will be the event of the season and is excited to wear her new satin gown and fur-trimmed jacket. Sandy reluctantly puts on his dress suit, which he hasn’t worn for three years, and is surprised to learn that it no longer fits. As Sandy holds his breath to squeeze into his vest, vowing not to eat anything all night, Lil sighs, “women may be crazy extravagant, but they always know enough to have something fresh for an occasion. Hand them that much.” (Liberty magazine, August 29, 1931, p. 61)
“Clothes Make the Man”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published October 3, 1931
Sandy is excited to receive an unexpected $35 income tax refund check. After going to the bank, he goes to lunch with Lil who is wearing a brand new dress and tells him about a hat she wanted but couldn’t afford. Sandy offers to buy the hat for Lil, but begins to regret his decision when they go to the shop and he sees the $35 price tag. (Liberty magazine, October 3, 1931, p. 52)
“Relativity”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published October 17, 1931.
As Lil’s Aunt Ruby, a “social gadabout” and “blithe widow of many years’ standing” arrives at the Jenkins family home for a visit, Sandy tries to hide his irritation once he sees the massive amount of luggage she had in tow. Aunt Ruby shows off an enormous new diamond ring and coyly announces she is to be married that fall and that her new fiance would be arriving shortly. As Lil scrambles up some hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, Sandy hears a car pull up to the house and is shocked to discover that Aunt Ruby’s future husband is none other than Sandy’s boss! (Liberty magazine, October 17, 1931, p. 37)
“Resolved”
Original cover for Liberty magazine, published January 9, 1932.
Sandy and Lil are excited to welcome the new year in 1932 and leave the past year of job losses, stock market crashes, and general hard luck behind. The couple is positive that brighter times are on the horizon as they make their new year resolutions. Lil promises to appease Sandy by never eating another onion, to not hog the bathroom for more than 30 minutes every morning, and to cut out other petty annoyances. Meanwhile, Sandy promises to break his irritating habits of nibbling crackers in bed, leaving cigarettes to burn out in the ashtray, among other things. The exchange ends in a marital squabble as Lil and Sandy discover how annoying they find one another’s quirks. (Liberty magazine, January 9, 1932)