Life, 1905-12-07 · page 48 of 60
Life — December 7, 1905 — page 48: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a serialized fictional story (not a political cartoon) from Life magazine, accompanied by an advertisement for Smith Gray & Co. livery services. **The Story's Context:** The narrative depicts a gender-role conflict common to early 20th-century satire. A proud professor of Huguenot descent refused to marry Juniper unless she agreed to "obey" in the marriage vows—a standard marital expectation then. She refused; he left the country. Years later, he's summoned back by "the President" (context unclear from this excerpt). **The Satire:** The humor targets rigid masculine pride. The professor's friend Highton suggests he should now accept Juniper ruling the household, sarcastically noting the Vice-President endures the same emasculation without complaint—a dig at contemporary politics, though the specific reference is unclear. **The Advertisement:** Promotes formal livery uniforms for servants and coachmen, emphasizing respectability through proper dress—a class-consciousness marker of the era. The story reflects anxieties about shifting gender dynamics in this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE: | “Why, yes," replied the professor. “Now, how in the world did they | know why I left? Come, my friend, and I will tell you the whole sto | I must have your advice.” 4 In a moment they were seated in a hotel room on the ninety-ninth |) floor, only one mile from the street level, where they could see tie dome of “The facts are these,” said the professor. “Before I left this country I was madly in love with Juniper and she reciprocated my affection. But AND || she was a proud, high-spirited girl, with a great ambition. Matters had |) all been arranged between us, when one day the marriage service happened to be mentioned “Of course dear,’ said Juniper, in the most matter-of-fact tone, ‘you will have no objection to | out the word obey.” “Imagine my feelings! My ors were Huguenots, and for genera- tions their descendants had lived in New England. I inherited all their | dignity and determination. The idea that a man should not be master }in his own home was impossible for me to consider. I had too mach pride in me. \ ver!" [ exclaimed. ‘If you marry me, Juniper, it must be with the I “James” is properly dressed for the distinct understanding that [ am the master, and you are the one who must obey. Please understand that I shall never press my advantage, that os ’ . Pare T shall always treat you with the utmost consideration—only, there cannot drive, he'll hold his head a bit higher. || be two heads to our household.’ — . riper scorned me at onc ve parted. Overcome with grief at Wonderful the starchy stateliness infused into losing her, and yet, unable to give in, I left the country, and entered, | you know, upon the work of a lifetime, And now, my friend, I find, much by spic and span Livery. to my surprise, that the old love for Juniper burns as brightly as ever. The moment I saw the photograph it all came back therefore, no time to lose. I must leave the country at once. Do you stay behind, careful “ James The Livery Department is a large and and express my regrets at not having seen her. I shall go back to my work.” important department in our business. It “Are you mad?" cried Highton. “Surely you have learned wisdom by this time. Surely now you would be content to let her rule. And, m - Ras < friend, I believe there is a good chance for you. She has remained single provides complete livery appointments, and all of these years. Who knows if she has not been secretly mourning for F her old t heart? Make up your mind to submit. Stoop to con- uniforms for Coachmen, Footmen, Chauffeurs, quer What ifas her husband, you will never be heard of again? Te wil not matter. You won't be any worse off than the Vice-President, who is and House Servants; and has a valuable as pretty as a peach, and no one ever speaks of her. Let Juniper have her own way and who knows—" Never!” muttered the professor. At this moment a messenger girl shot in through a pneumatic tube with . defies the following message: given satisfaction for years. “The President desires Professor Radilon to know that she has been apprised of his arrival, and expects him promptly at five, withor t. Highton grasped his friend's arm. “Come,” he said, “there is no way out of it! Reluctantly the professor followed, his face full of misgiving Once more they stood in the corridor. Once more the doorkeeper— Riding Breeches, Servants’ Club this time more obsequious than ever, bowed to them, as he whispered to Highton that the President wished the interview with his friend private. and Hotel Uniforms. The professor was ushered into a private room. There was a rustle of silk, a startled little cry, and Juniper stood before him—Juniper in : the glory of old lace, and filmy silk effects that seemed a fit.setting for her extraordinarily youthful figure “Paul! BOOKLET ON REQUEST “Juniper!” They clasped each other's hands “Why did you not come befc she asked. “I have been waiting for you—I was too proud to send you word, although I have had information s |as to your whereabouts.” Why did I not come before? Why should I? Smith Gray & Co. ||| Juniper lowered her eyes. She blushed perceptibly. “Because,” she said slowly, “I wanted you.” BROADWAY AND THIRTY-FIRST ST., NEW YORK “Haven't you subjects enough now?” BROADWAY AND BEDFORD AVE. peooKtyN She smiled J : . FULTON ST. AND FLATBUSH AVE. § 2 No,” she said playfully. “I wish another one. Haven't you changed your mind, Paul? Aren't you willing to have the word ‘obey’ stricken out? Isn't it for this that you have come back?” clientele of particular people to whom it has Fur-trimmed Liveries are the thing—$95. (Concluded on second page following.) comicbooks.com