Life, 1903-05-28 · page 7 of 22
Life — May 28, 1903 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This illustration depicts a bustling retail scene—likely a department store or shop—crowded with well-dressed customers and salespeople. The poem accompanying it satirizes the commercialization of shopping and consumer culture, mocking both aggressive sales tactics ("Sporty salesmen shouted 'Cash!'") and the frivolous spending habits of upper-class women ("Summer girls of sunburnt hue," "Chorus blondes and stage brunettes"). The "Bow and Arrow" shop sign appears to be a generic establishment. The satire targets the materialism of the era—bargain-hunting crowds, manipulative salesmanship, and the social performance of conspicuous consumption. The illustration and verse together critique turn-of-the-century shopping culture as shallow and economically irrational.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NTO Hymen’s store I strolled On a bargain day ; ‘There were maidens young and old, Modest, pert and g: For the buyer who Wherewithal to pay. gold Débutantes marked “Cheap and New Schoolma’‘ams wreathed in smiles maids of thirty-two ; In the * Remnant Aisles Summer girls of sunburnt hue (“ Out-of-season Styles.” ) Chorus blondes and stage brunettes (* Absolutely fast’’) ; “ Real Imported” h grisettes ; Widows (with a past); Ieiresses ken sets— Half-price, while they last.” ) At the Sign of the Bow and Arrow. Sporty salesmen shouted ‘ Cash!" Bayers pushed and swore, said I, ‘the stock is trash— p, but nothin ‘These are bargains for th So I fled the store. Then I sf Cupid's modest sign ; In his little shop were sweet Maidens superfine. “1,” said Cupid, ‘don’t compete In the mark-down line.” rash.” «1 across the street You've a choice assortment here.” “That [can't deny,” Cupid answered, “but I fear You have come to buy,— All ny goods are * So they a com," 8: Cupid did not care to sell— was plain to see; ¢ showed me blushing Belle, Modest: Marjorie, n—very swell, a pedig Then, by lucky chance, I spied In the comer’s shade, Dainty Alice, hazel-eyed, Hiding, half-afraid. “Cupid, take my gold,” I cried, — “Sell me yonder maid!” Cupid smiled, and answered, ** N Be not overbold, — Keep your money while you may ; ce she must be sold, Love's the price that you shall pay She will spend the gold !"” Frank Roe Batchelder, The Only Way. THAT shail we do?” As Mrs. Tipton confronted her husband, hee pale and worn face betr: but too well the evidence of some crisis stupendous in its proportions. “and you will yed “ Listen,” she continued, see the dreadful situation in which we are placed. This evening, as you remember, is the evening of our dianer party. Twelve people have been invited, and it is now noon. Well, will you believe it, just before you came in the cook announced her inten- tion of leaving us this afternoon. Oh, what shall we do?” Tipton staggered back at this announce- “Have you,” he asked, partly “offered her every induce- ment. ering himself, ment to stay?” “E hing. AJL I want her to do is to cook the dinner, and then she can go, but she will not consent.” Her husband’s face took on a serious aspect. “There is one thing,” he said, “that sug- gestsitselftome, I willtry itasalast resort.” He disappeared into the kitchen. Itseemed. to Mrs. Tipton as if hours had passed since he went away, but at last he came in with a triumphant smile. ‘She is going to stay,” he said, ‘‘on one condition.” “And whatis that?”’ asked Mrs. Tipton eagerly. “This,” replied Tipton ; “that afer she has cooked the dinner, she be allowed to preside at the head of the table.” comicbooks.com