Life, 1901-07-04 · page 5 of 20
Life — July 4, 1901 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Reflections of a Mirror—XII" This satirical illustration depicts a barbershop scene where a hairdresser's attractive daughter has become a major draw for customers, much to the annoyance of a jealous assistant. The caption explains that the man who purchased this barbershop business hired the daughter as staff, and her presence greatly increased the establishment's patronage—but irritated a competing employee. The satire targets small-business dynamics and workplace jealousy, showing how personal attractiveness could be exploited (intentionally or not) as a business asset in the early 20th century. The crowded shop and formal dress suggest this is an upscale establishment, mocking both the owner's transparent marketing strategy and the assistant's evident resentment of being eclipsed by a colleague's popularity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Vg 4. 4} 7 A |Z Zz 4a 44 44 4 4 , 4 Ai f- 44) y rf Zi 4 # Be B Pde F< 4 4 * ANANAN SANS REFLECTIONS OF A MIRROR—NXII. The man who bought me proved to be a hairdresser, and I was put up in bis popular establishment, The attractions of his daughter greatly increased the patronage of the place, to the great annoyance, however, of « jealous assistant,