Life, 1904-06-09 · page 7 of 20
Life — June 9, 1904 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a satirical diary entry from a "distinguished woman instructor of a Martian college" observing Earth women. The humor relies on defamiliarization—an alien perspective highlighting American women's peculiar behaviors as absurd. The main illustration shows a couple in a wooded setting; the caption notes young people feel "very near to one another," suggesting romantic coupling will increase closeness. The diary entries mock women's consumer culture and materialism: she observes women laden with luggage, shopping at department stores, and clutching possessions. The "Family Tree of the O'Tooles" illustration satirizes Irish-American consumerism, depicting a family literally sprouting commercial goods (licenses, politics magazines, etc.). The satire targets American materialism and gender norms through outsider perspective.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
5713 —_ , ; aesuetae Saar signal lack of success, as they completely is ‘. blocked every effort of that kind. Con- quently, I accepted the inevitable, and waited patiently an hour and a half until they had finished their conversation. As the tone entered, I sought to pass in behind her; but she released the b . swinging door so suddenly that I received a severe blow, which caused a number of contusions upon my head and dislocated my shoulder.” Wepyespay: ‘ Arrived a little late at the matince and, to reach my chair, had to pass three women who were already seated. They looked me over insolently as I stood before them, and then ab- sorbed themselves in their conversation, When, at last, they decided to allow me to enter, they sullenly arose, exchanging meanwhile disdainful remarks on the inconvenience to which they had been submitted.”” Tueurspay: ‘Lost pocketbook con- taining all my mone id my return ticket over the Trans-Aerial-Martian- THESE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY ARE VERY NEAR TO ONE ANOTHER, SOMETHING WILL SOON HAPPEN THAT WILL MAKE THEM FREL EVEN CLOSER, CAN VOU GUESS WHAT IT 18 AND WHY IT WiLL BRING THEM CLOSER TOGETHER? As Others See Us. behind it enter a car this morn- DISTINGUISHED woman ing. Placing mber of instructor of a Martian wraps, a suit an umbrella, college recently golf s sent to th to make — and a five-pound box of candy an especial study of beside her, she paid for one woman, her manners — seat while occupying five. The and peculiarities, upon car filled rapidly with men and th globe. Being women, whoclung tostraps and largely in the lit- bestowed baleful glances upon of our sphere, she this complacent and uncon- dan excel- scious young person, bat lacked lent theoretical idea of the courage to ask her toremove object of her investigations, her luggage to the floor.” and was making this some. Tvrspay: “Attempted to what tedious and lengthy study woman in her true habi- journey solely to verify itin tat—the department store. A fact. The following are a group of the species stood before few extracts fromherdiary : the entrance laughing and talk- Moxpay: ‘Saw a huge ing, As I could not push bunch of violets with a through them, I endeavored to young woman concealed pass around them, but with a FAMILY TREE OY THE O'TOOLES, comicbooks.com