Life, 1897-11-11 · page 3 of 20
Life — November 11, 1897 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 387 This page satirizes late-19th/early-20th century women's fashion and social roles through two contrasting illustrations. The left figure, labeled "THERE ARE SOME WHO OBJECT TO IT, BUT IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT ON—", depicts a woman in practical athletic wear with bloomers and a jacket—the "New Woman" style gaining acceptance. This represents progressive fashion reform. The right figure shows a woman in an extremely voluminous skirt, labeled "THIS," representing traditional restrictive fashion that the satire mocks. The text "A Problem" and "Raise Him" discusses whether a man's income should support a family, and announces a "Pegasus Contest" regarding education. The joke critiques the tension between emerging women's liberation (practical clothing) and traditional femininity, while questioning men's financial obligations—reflecting contemporary debates about women's evolving social roles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THERE ARE SOME WHO OBJECT TO IT, BUT IT’S AN IMPROVEMENT ON— A Problem. OW strange a thing is a man's income, Paradoxical though it be. To live within one bothers some, To live without one bothers me. GT. S. Raise Him. F course the little new boy will be named Grover Cleveland, Jr. Excellent! Toa family duly provided withnecessaries—to wit, with girls— a boy or two is a very appropriate and timely addition, By all means raise little Grover. Lire’s “ Pegasus "’ Contest. WE are glad to see that Lire’s ‘* Pegasus” Contest is reviv- ing a general interest in the poets. From the answers already in we sup- pose there has been some refreshing of Longfellow memories. In our adver- tising columns will be found all necessary information, HE problem of education is to extend the pupil's thirst for information to the subjects treated of in the school books. comicbooks.com