Life, 1891-10-22 · page 8 of 16
Life — October 22, 1891 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 228 This page satirizes women's social reform movements of the early 20th century. The narrative centers on "Pen," a young woman proposing a "Society for the Suppression of Impropriety." Her father, skeptical but indulgent, agrees to let her serve as "president and general manager." The satire mocks the earnest reformist impulse by showing Pen's vague, expansive goals—fighting stage impropriety, street cleaning, and "all that sort of thing." Her father's dry response highlights the absurdity: women should tackle these "practical valueless" tasks while men handle serious work. The accompanying street scene illustrations depict working-class figures, emphasizing the gap between Pen's upper-class moral ambitions and actual urban social problems. The humor lies in depicting well-meaning but naive female activism as both ineffectual and presumptuous.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: PENELOPE’S LATEST. “ce Pp aid her father to her very seriously one evening, as she was calmly cutting the pages of the latest magazine, “why don’t you take some serious interest in life? You will never have to work and earn mone: a great many girls do, it is true; but that is all the more rea- son why you, with plenty of leisure, should try to do something for the general interests of mankind, I don’t {see why some philanthropic ! or charitable work wouldn't interest you, and I'm sure it would be very much better than to spend all your time reading trashy nov going to the theatre “That's very true, papa, and I have thought of it for along time. Indeed, I have gone so far as to organize replied Pen and society, demurely. “A society for what ? asked her father, who did not know whether he was dreaming, or Pen, fibbing. “A society for the suppression of impropriety, Pen. very replied “I'm to be president and general manager.” “T'll wager you will be president and general manager of anything you go into. ing society What are the objects of this astound- “The suppression of impropriety, of course. For in- stance, we are going to make war on the improprieties on the stage and in novels. Those are about the only ones we thought of yet, but if there are any other interesting improprieties we will make war on them also. [t's woman's sphere now to do all these things. They are taking hold of street cleaning and all that sort of thing as you know, Men are practically valueless for such work. ‘They lack the finer ) By the way, shall have to ask you to help me, papa. Of course you will after what you have just said.” sensibility of the women. “Humph! What do you want do for you ? “ Well, as president and_ gene of the investigating committee. my duller sensibilities to manager, | am chairman Of course, to do my duty 1 shall have to investigate all these things from time to time. Indeed, | expect it will keep me very busy this Winter. On Mond: you will have to take me to see “The Prancing Girl.” On Tuesday there is a meeting of the for instance society, but I think perhaps it will be better for me to con- tinue the investigations and let some one else preside. They won't dare to do anything that will displease me, so we will investigate that French singer, at the Hades Musee, on that night. The next night we will take in “The Doleful Monarch,” another comic opera, and J will let you know what we will do the remainder of the week, in time for you to get tickets. In the mean time you must go down town and order copies of all the latest novels that are in any way: improper, and have them sent up to me. you going, papa ? But the old gentleman was already out of the room, and it is perhaps just as well not to record the remarks he made as he edged up to the sideboard and braced up his declining health. Why, where are OODEN: Now, I don’t propose — Miss SMIL¢ Yes I've noticed it. CONVICTIONS ARE »—The District Attorney. ALWAYS RE BARsER (fo Irishman in the chair); Bay ram, s IRISHMAN: No, thank you sir. my way up. Thad two beers on The Little Ones LESD ME A FIVE, WILL YOU ? The Big One: WELL, VM RATHER PRESSED MYSELF. JUST NOW, APTER LENDING YOU THAT HUNDRED, LAST WHEX The Little One (bitterly): WANT AS FRIENDSHIP DUT The Big One (sadly): A LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY, APPARENTLY A NAME? comicbooks.com