Life, 1901-04-04 · page 14 of 32
Life — April 4, 1901 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Harold and His Papa"** is a humorous domestic dialogue satirizing male excuses and gender dynamics in Edwardian society. A father explains to his curious son why he won't attend his wife's author reading—claiming he'd invent a business excuse if necessary. The joke hinges on the father's candid admission that he doesn't understand literary readings (which he suggests women do, men don't), and his invention of the phrase "justifiable mendacity" to dignify his lie. The satire targets male avoidance of cultural events and their rationalizations for avoiding wives' intellectual pursuits. **"A Polar Star"** (bottom right) appears to be a theatrical advertisement cartoon. It shows figures in formal dress outside a "Box Office," likely advertising a stage production called "A Polar Star" or similar. The cartoon style is typical of Life's theatrical promotion cartoons from this era. Both pieces reflect turn-of-century attitudes about gender, marriage, and domestic culture—husbands' resistance to wives' intellectual activities and entertainment advertising conventions.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
276 noLLER Mine were stupid beyond all how Yes, yours were purely tradi- tional ! cokes. Bullerand Bobs, a puniti Very uncqual laurels they share! (Cecil, Rhodes and Dr. Jameson now make their appearance from opposite sides, and are greeted with prolonged cheere, after whlch the entire company falls In tine and marches aroun the stage to Rule Mt mark thme and 1 his blindness feel the yoke, "LEP * As continually the critics croak ! carping “Tis our task to rend asunder while the blind ones feebly wonder, and we gather in the plunder at a stroke ! Then, Ho, for the sound of our Christian fe Good treading! And we'll follow the f suke of the swag, While spreading ! Lord, Thy footstool g for the the Gospel we are (curtatn.) Tom Masson, W S have received the following communication from Toronto: ouch Bimgs what our yorerd: rqpour paper you ve flues mur pone not Such w good wis or (5. Mes is agraile Your Urls pote prcalohe Harold and His Papa. af ‘PAPA, where has mamma gone?” «She has gone to an author’s reading.”” “ Why didn’t you go too?” “For two reasons. I didn’t want to go, and she didn’t want me to go.”” «But suppose she had wanted you to go, would you have gone?” “That depends, Harold. She might have sprung it on me without notice. But if [had known it beforehand, I should have been detained down town on business, and wouldn't have gotten home in time,”* “But you wouldn’t really have been detained, would you? Only make-believe?” “Yes, that’s it.”” “* And wouldn't that be a lie?” ** Well, not exac' tiflable Mendacity.” “What a big word! What does it mean ?’” “ You are too young to know. It is merely a man’s oc- casional privilege and a woman’s constant prerogative.”” ‘Ooh! But what is an author’s reading?” “You know, for mamma has been many times before. It is where some one who has written a book reads out of it to a lot of women.” ** But don’t men ever go?" “Not if they can help it.” “But why didn’t mamma want you to go?” “ Because she thought I wouldn’t understand what the author read."* “But you would understand it, wouldn’t you, papa? For you are awful smart.” **Tam afraid I shall have to undeceive you, Harold. No, I would not understand what the author read.” * But mamma always does, doesn't she? ly, my son. That would only be Jus- Because 1 A POLAR STAR.