Life, 1905-06-01 · page 19 of 52
Life — June 1, 1905 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of social satire: **"The Annual Due Bill"** (main story): A husband's nightmare where he marries a young, modern woman who refuses traditional domestic roles. She demands leisure, fun, and financial support while refusing to cook or clean—inverting Victorian gender expectations. The twist reveals it was a dream, and the relieved husband appreciates his real wife. The satire mocks both new feminist ideals and anxious husbands threatened by women's changing demands. **Lower cartoons**: Brief domestic humor pieces, including one about a wife's complaint regarding trunk-packing for a shore trip, and another appearing to reference Chauncey M. Depew (a real 19th-century politician/businessman) as a "dummy director"—likely satirizing his involvement in theater or business ventures. The magazine targets early 20th-century marriage anxieties and evolving gender roles, using exaggeration and nightmare scenarios for comedic effect.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
them—used a little tact, for example —they might have stayed.” “Possibly, But that’s not my way. Come now, get to work. Fix this fire and skirmish around and cook some- thing for dinner.” . Whittler looked at her hopelessly. “My dear girl,” he exclaimed, “I’m not used to this sort of thing. I’m a hard-working business man. You're a woman and should look after these matters. You cook and I'll wait.” “Not one bit of it! I’m not that sort of a wife. I'm not a cooking wife. I'm attractive and bright and young. You selected me, didn’t you? When you said you wished you had me for a wife, you didn’t require a list of things that I could do.” “Certainly not, but, my dear girl, one takes certain things for granted.” His new partner laughed a merry peal of laughter. “ Well, you are a soft one,’”’she ex- claime: ‘Here you agree that you are disappointed in the wife you have, and just think ! Out ofall the women in the whole town that you see, you pick me to take her place, and now that you've got me you are not satis- fied. If that isn’t like a man!” “But,” replied Whittler, “this is all so sudden. If I only had time to think it over! Perhaps if we could have arranged for a preliminary trial She stopped him short. ‘A preliminary trial!’ she ex- claimed. ‘And what, pray, do you think of me? Here I am, an attract- ive, stylish young girl, with loads of admirers, obliged to be tied down to an old bald-headed codger like you.” “I'm not bald-headed !” “Well, you're almost, and you'll be entirely before I get through with you. I say, what do you think of me? I suppose about all you expect of me is to run after ser make beds, mend your clothes, and be a household drudge, instead of going to matinées and balls and parties. Well, I'l fool you. I'll have all the fun I want, and you'll pay for it.” Whittler rubbed his eyes. “Am I dreaming or not?” he groaned. His new wife caught him by the few remaining hairs of his head. He * TRE was already beginning to hate her cordially. “Yes,” she exclaimed. ‘ You are dreaming. And the best of it is that you can’t wake up.” “ But I must wake up.” “Nonsense. Haven't you selected me for a life partner? And aren't you obliged to stick by me? Well, I just guess you are.” She poked him in the stomach. “But I shall die if I don’t have something to eat. I feel a terrible gnawing already.” “No, you won't die, I’ll keep you alive.” “Tf you touch me I'll holler.” “You can’t.” “Tecan, and will.” “ Try it and sce.’” “ Allright. Here goes.” Whittler tried in vain to hallo, and was just about to give it up, when he felt some one shaking him violently. He opened his eyes. His own dear wife looked at him sympathetically. “ There!’ she said. ‘‘ That’s what one of those club dinners has done for you. Was it awful?” Whittler put his arms around her in the very ecstasy of love. “ Darling,” he murmured, “it was the worst nightmare I ever had—but —I deserved it!” The Annual Due Bill. M*® AND MRS, X. Y. VAN SPUYTEN DUYVIL request your presents at the marriage of their daughter ANGELA to MR, LE ROY SNOBBS, Saturday evening, June Seventeenth, Nineteen. Hundred and F | pee it joyously ludicrous to hear of our rhetorical friend, Chauncey M. Depew, figuring as a dummy director ? W! = : The doctor has ordered me to the shore, John! Huspanp: Huh! You are not “run down" or “ tired out,” are you? “No, but I will be by the time I get my trunks packed!" * Bee: WEY, UP THERE! WANT ANY POL- LEN THIS MORNING 2? comicbooks.com