Life, 1904-10-20 · page 3 of 20
Life — October 20, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page features an illustration titled "LIFE" showing a couple in an early automobile (traveling at "forty miles an hour") beneath large trees, with the caption "FINE VIEW, ISN'T IT?" / "YES, IT WAS." Below is a short story called "The Prize Story in a Woman's Magazine" about a character named Patty. The narrative describes Patty refusing a suitor (Harold Pennychaser) due to lack of wealth, then discovering she can create valuable textile items—including a decorative skirt and chair cover using vintage materials. The story concludes with Patty ultimately winning Harold's affection and "thirteen millions." This appears to be satirizing popular women's magazine fiction tropes: the penniless suitor eventually becoming wealthy, and narratives where resourceful women achieve romance and financial security through domestic craftsmanship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Prize Story in a Woman’s Magazine. i O,” said Patty, forlornly, to a group of her young friends, “I cannot go to the ball. I have nothing to wear.”” “But, Patty,” murmured her gay companions, “ Harold Pennychaser will be there, and he is worth thirteen mil- lions."” Patty only turned sadly away, her slight form shaken by sobs. Then the spirit of her Revolutionary ancestors stirred within her. Was she to be debarred her fighting chance at Harold Pennychaser’s millions for the mere lack of alittle ammunition? Never. Bravely AT FORTY MILES AN HOUR. “PINE view, ISN'T IT?" “ves, mwas." she dashed the tears from her eyes, and sought the attic and investigated the contents of the rag-bag. Finally she emerged bearing a long silk window curtain, a brocaded chair cover, atattered lace center-piece, a pair of worn-out silk stockings, and a pair of time-stained white slippers. Our lit- tle Patty was now to show that genius for reconstruction which should have made her Dictator of the Philippines. With the curtain she made a dainty skirt (see our pattern 2901 A), then with the chair cover she made a be- witching little bodice, with the new sleeves (see our pattern 3706 N), finishing them at the elbow with lace AWN BZ from the center-piece. Aunt Regina's old silk stockings she now took in hand. They were a mass of holes ; but in those too large to darn she inserted neat medallions of lace. (For directions see page 487.) The slippers she painted blue, and then twining a pink rose in the masses of her bronze-gold hair, she went to the ball, looking far lovelier and more exquisitely gowned than her young companions in their Lady Duff Gordon and Mrs, Osborn frocks. It was then mere child's play for her to win the attention and ultimately the hand of noble, athletic, young Harold Pennychaser, and his thirteen millions. Mrs. Wilson Woodrow. comicbooks.com