Life, 1903-09-03 · page 15 of 32
Life — September 3, 1903 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple brief satirical pieces typical of Life magazine's humor format: **Main Cartoon**: A woman representing "Fame" interviews a man with a new book. She offers him a week of prominence—the maximum duration she now grants anyone. The satire mocks the fleeting nature of literary success and celebrity in modern times. **Other Jokes** target contemporary social issues: - A dig at William Jennings Bryan's apparent belief that free speech protections exist solely for his benefit - Jokes about courtship ("unskilled labor"), marriage to wealthy widows, and street-car conductors accidentally injuring passengers wearing corsets - A final bit about a woman rejecting marriage because her father forbids "extravagance" The page reflects turn-of-the-century concerns: celebrity culture's ephemerality, political bombast, class anxieties, and gender dynamics. The corset references suggest ongoing debate about women's fashion and public behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIFE: 223 She looked at his credentials. “This new Look of yours seems to be pretty good. It looks to me as if it would be one of the best selling books of the day.” “It is good,” exclaimed the man, “It's a corker.” “Very well,” said Fame, toucl ing a bell, ‘just give your n to my private secretary I'll reserve you that place up yonder for—’ “How Ic questioned her visitor eagerly. “Oh,” said Fame, yawning, “for a week or so. That's the limit now- adays, you know. nd And she slammed the door in his face. Tom Masson. Classified. TELLA : How does Jack make love? Betta: Well, I should define it as un- skilled labor. Privileged. TP HEHonorable Colo- nel William J. Bryan appears to believe that the constitutional provision regarding free speech was inserted for his especial benefit. Sure, Yes! “ELE married a widow, young, beautiful, wealthy, and without a rela- tive on earth.”” “Jove! Luck like that is better than a license to steal !” The Unweaker Vessel. “\7OU are accused of mashing women,” said the stranger. “TI know it,” replied the street car conductor. “ But 'tain't the women that gits mashed, so much as ‘tis the small kids and . old men, I s’pose on account of the “Ms women mostly wearin’ corsets.’” Fired. “7 UNDERSTANDBlankley was ejected from Jones's hou: where he went to pay a visit. “Yes, he was an old flame of Mrs. Jones, and Jones put him out.” She: 1 AM APRAID 1 CANNOT MARRY YOU, DEAREST. Mis Lordship; on. wny Not? “PAPA WOULD NEVER FORGIVE NE YOR BEING so EXTRAVAGANT.” comicbooks.com