Life, 1893-01-12 · page 12 of 16
Life — January 12, 1893 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page satirizes early 1900s American attitudes toward marriage and divorce. The main poem "A Problem" by S. St. G. Lawrence ironically contrasts past generations—who married impulsively with no escape—with the current era. South Dakota's lenient divorce laws ("while you wait") have paradoxically made young people *hesitant* to marry, as they now obsess over potential regret rather than rushing forward. The "Society Notes" mock upper-class pretension through absurdly named characters (Miss Tralala Tootsie, Mr. Bloomindale Chumpp) and comical excess—"half-million dollar crowns of solitaire walnut diamonds," favors costing $500 each. The dialogue cartoon below jokes that a woman's weary response reveals her husband has already told her his "splendid story" before, undermining his claim of novelty. The overall satire targets both marital indecision and nouveau-riche ostentation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
arrange A PROBLEM. HEN divorce was never practiced, in the childhood of our nation, People rushed to matrimony on the slightest provocation. Childish girl and boyish lover shouldered all its claims exacting, Took its many varied chances, knowing there was no retracting. But though South Dakota's judges ‘* while you wait" will now divorce you, And if matrimony bores you, naught to stay in it can force you. Now the century is dying, all the youths and maidens tarry, Ever dallying with the notion that perhaps 'twere good to marry And so well they think it over, they are so afraid they'll rue it, And they weigh it with such caution that they seldom ever do it On these facts I oft have pondered, and I own that they have vexed me, For I never can explain them, although long they have perplexed me. S. St. G. Lawrence. SOCIETY NOTES. N January 31, Miss Crossie Van Ingott will be married to Mr. G. Boodle-Hunter, of England. He is some- body's nephew, we understand. * * . HE dance at Mrs. Normus Chynn’s, on Monday even- ing, brought out more interest and a larger attendance than had been at all expected. Miss Tralala Tootsie was honored by being chosen to lead the cotillion by Mr. Blooming- dale Chumpp. She received much attention, and has been accepted as one of the belles of this season. Some of the costumes worn were remarkably striking and handsome. Mrs. Tayleure and Mrs. Bank-Hendreson re- ceived, the latter wearing a gown of chinchilla cottonade, with superb diamonds. Mrs. Tayleure was in white and gold, and her costume, as was remarked, was in perfect accord with the coloring of the ballroom... She wore a half- million dollar crown of solitaire walnut diamonds, Mrs. Howdedoo Tata’s gown was black silk with a reverberating pattern of white lace around the skirt, which attracted much attention, as also did Miss Tyllie Thomepkyn’s Empire dress of black silk with huge pink velvet puff sleev The favors were appropriate, none costing less than $500.00, and supper was served at small tables. . . . HE other dance of the week was that given by Mrs. Pompan Show, on Wednesday evening. The dance was preceded by a dinner of 70 covers, which served in the spacious library and dining room of the handsome new Pompan Show mansion. The prevailing colors of the decor- ations were red and green. The table in the malachite smok- ing room ran around three sides of the apartment. Thirty- six guests sat at this table. during dinner. Mr. Braynless Chappie led the cotillion, dancing with Miss Show. There were about sixty couples in the dance, and the favors were given out by Mrs. Pompan Show. These in- cluded diamond stars mounted on wands with miniature figures of Midas. The Belgravian Band played He: Out, | HAVE A SPLENDID STORY TO TELL You, I DON'T THINK I EVER TOLD IT TO YOU BEFORE, She: 18 1T REALLY 4 GooD sToRY ? He: ANDEED IT 18, She (wearily): THEN YOU HAVEN'T TOLD IT TO ME BEFORE, comicbooks.com