Life, 1899-10-12 · page 3 of 20
Life — October 12, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 283 The main illustration depicts a formal dinner scene with three figures around a table. Based on the caption "She: 'DON'T YOU THINK IT NICE IF BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE CAN SUPPORT THEMSELVES?' He: 'OH, I DON'T KNOW. IT SEEMS AS IF HUSBANDS WERE MADE FOR BETTER THINGS,'" this satirizes gender roles and economic independence in marriage. The accompanying text discusses a Russian/American marriage involving Miss Julia Dent Grant (appears to be related to a Grant family) and Prince Michael Cantacuzene of Russia. The satire mocks outdated masculine attitudes about women's financial independence while simultaneously poking fun at international aristocratic marriages. The small circular illustration below shows two figures with umbrellas, likely another humorous commentary on courtship or matrimonial matters.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
s asd to whole of fore the | a corel eying tO amis by c's work mself ioe Edition etchingh, ed by the SON She: DON'T YOU THINK IT NICE IP BOTH HUSBAND AND WIPE CAN SUPPORT THEMSELVES? “OM, I DON'T KNOW, IT SEEMS AS IP HUSBANDS WERE MADE POR BETTER THINGS,"? Yankee Doodle and the Rus- sian Eagle. HOSE readers of certain New York dailies who are perpetually confronted by a “society " column will be relieved to learn that Miss Julia Dent Grant Is finally raarried. She married Prince Michael Cantacuzene of Russia. To this important international event the New York Times gives nearly three columns, We select but a single pearl : ‘The parents d'honneur at this service were the Grand Duke Viaditntr of Russia and Mrs. Potter Palmer, aunt of the bride. According to the Russtan custom, Miss Grant had two garcons de ‘noce—her brother, Ulysses 8. Grant, third, and her uncle, Adrian Ifonore. Those of Prince Can- tacuzene’ were Honore Palmer aud Potter Palmer, Jr. This American Republic of ours is just marching on! So is Mrs, Potter Palmer; and if she ever becomes Em- press of Russia it will be a glorious thing for us. We deeply regret that we could not , see the ‘parents d'tonneur” and the \ “‘garcone de noe” with our own eyes. i Itisa fine thing to be a “parent d'hon- ) neur,” but, failing that, one can at least aspire to a" gargon de noc.” Of course @ parent of dishonor is quite another ‘ matter, but a nuptial boy is always a \, proper thing to have about, Both Meant the Same. LAYWRIGHT: I haven't dared to \ ask yet whether my tragedy is a !euccess or not, but I've just glanced at : an account which says there wasn'ta dry eye in the audience. Manacer(grimly): Yes. Here is an- other account that says they laughed till they cried. THEL: Mamma, when does God make his preserves? Mamma: What do you mean? “Why, the minister prayed that God would preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth.” Pirst Mosquito: SAY, WILLIE, WHAT TAS BE- COME OP PRETTY MISS DRILLER? “OU, SUE GOT MASHED ON A YOUNG FELLOW AT THE SEASHORE.”