Life, 1904-01-07 · page 25 of 36
Life — January 7, 1904 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the newly opened International Woman's Club through mock "Rules and Regulations." The humor lies in exaggerating stereotypes about women's gossip and vanity: **The Main Cartoon** shows two men discussing the club's female members—one asking how the "girls average" for the new club, the other replying he can't tell yet because he's "only seen their faces." This plays on the shallow assumption that women's value is purely physical. **The "Rules" Section** mocks women's supposed preoccupations through absurdist regulations: mandatory gossip rooms, servants hired based on tipping ability, a "perfumery room for scent incurables," and members removing diamond earrings while playing pool (suggesting frivolous jewelry and leisure activities). **The Bottom Text** by E.S. Martin argues against college-educated men limiting themselves to collegiate social circles, presenting a counterpoint to provincial club mentality. The **Small Owl Cartoon** ("Wisdom Listening to Foolishness") appears unrelated, possibly filler. Overall, this 19th-century satire mocks women's clubs as frivolous gathering places dominated by gossip and vanity—a perspective that reflects period gender biases rather than endorses them.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
25 The Method. “FAIXPERIENCE is costly, As all ofus can tell; We purchase it at retail, And then at wholesale sell. Rules and Regulations. AT the New International ~ Woman’s Club, which is now in process, the following rules will be enforced : All members will be continually posted—about the affairs of the others. Private gossip rooms, holding two comfortably, can be had at the desk. The Whist Club will meet invariably in the music room. Any waiter or employee who can succeed in getting any member to tip him will have his salary raised. Members will please re- ® their diamond ear- while playing pool or billiards. A special perfumery room will be provided for scent incurables. One portion of food will not be served tomore than half a dozen. When the President and Board of Directors are transacting business, the Club-house will be closed. Each member will be limited to one cozy corner. servants? "? i Db? you have any trouble with “No. Without them.” “Mow HO THE GIRLS AVERAGE FoR TIE NEW cuonvs?” “LCAN'T TELL YET. I'VE ONLY SEEN THEIR PACES.” be known first of all as a Harvard man, a Yale anactive man to be confined to. The big world man, or as the graduate of any college,is not ais not too big for him, and if he makes for him- distinction, but the evidence of limitation in his __ self an honorable and conspicuous place in it, he usefulness, The college crowd, even if it in- does farbetter by his college than by anyamount Cihou Garestiase cludes the men of all thecolleges,istoo small for of splashing in the restricted college pool. voousiusicie: ELS. Martin, comicbooks.com