Life, 1906-04-05 · page 25 of 58
Life — April 5, 1906 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes domestic power dynamics and women's ambition. The main narrative concerns Mr. and Mrs. Dimpleton: Mrs. Dimpleton intends to defeat Mrs. Whippet in a Women's Club election by exposing her incompetence at home management. The irony—which Mrs. Dimpleton herself articulates—is that fighting Mrs. Whippet will require her to neglect her own household duties, thereby proving the very point she wants to make: that women cannot manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously. The accompanying illustration titled "The Seven Collars of Man" (lower left) appears to show silhouettes of men's heads/collars in profile, likely satirizing male attitudes or social hierarchy, though its specific reference is unclear from this page alone. The satire critiques how women's domestic obligations constrain their public participation, while simultaneously mocking female social climbing through club politics.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
possible thing. I'm not going to allow her to patronize me. Never! I guess I know as much as she does, and a heap sight more. fight her. for the worst. I won't have any time to look after the house for I don't know how long. It will take all my energies to fight this battle. You'll And I'm going to So, my dear, you must look have to look aiter the serva nd children and keep an cye on things and do the best you can.” Dimpleton shuddered. Here, sud- denly, like a bolt out of a clear sky, his hitherto happy, perfectly balanced © was 10 be without its head—a disaster that seemed a worse calamity than any he could have voluntarily Just because Mrs. Whippet nner snubbed his wiie. conceived, had in some her blood was up and he—Dimpicton— What could it somehow that pro was to he the real victim be done? He test was in vain. He must trust to luck, or that evanescent god who pre- sides over the comfort of married men and babies “Well you've made up your mind to have he said quietly suppose «fight and there’s no use for me to rgue with you. But [warn yc y task a ined dear, that you have no ¢ Mrs. Whit that sert of thing. If she resolved to be Presiden e Woman's Club, 1 Resides, have you you think Tm of you believe ered me? De of some consequence Yes. dear, T have, but I've made up my mind that woman be cireum vented and T think T know 1 way te after all, if she negleets her anages her house make evident hold, [think that she isn't a fit sich an important position, and I be- person to occupy eve that when this is brought home to the members of the club they will right wa see it in and will not elect her. Bit yet you say, now, that just be- *-LIFE- cause you are going to fight her, youare going to do the same thing Doesn't that prove, my di not that Mrs. Whippet isn’t smart. but simply that she can't do two things at once any more than you can?” Mrs. Dimpleton smiled tri- umphantly “No! It doesn't prove any: thing of the sort. The cases net parallel at all. Mrs. pet never managed her house She hasn't yot the ai But she can talk, and spout French and German, and sup on Bille study and everything ow, our club, It's te its mem- to live in that makes a show is for purposes of culture round out the character of them how That's attention to teach their hemes. intend to ps ch abies and the servant Whippet is full of shall prove that she is not competent. I shall prove it in the only way that it can be proved, that she is not fit to direct other pco- ple’s minds, when she can't direct her bers end own why we the care of problem. Mrs theories. But 1 Rut are you sure she is as bad as Cu "Yes, yes Did 3 now comfortable he was at home Don’t you know her hus- a1 ever hear him brag of Dimpleton recalled that he never had. He remembered now that W pet had a way of staying in town as siten as possible—no doubt he was prond of bis wife—of her brilliancy ; but he didn’t well fed nor did he carry abou that sleek, indefinable compl rried man whose wife seem partictlarly with him ceney that recompanies a is constantly looking after him “Well.” he said, “perhaps you a right, but [don’t see how you can fight it-on that ground.” Mrs, Dimpleton smiled “All things are possible.” she re- S COLLARS OF MAN, If MLL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.” lied, “when the occasion demands it The election takes Tuesday. On Monday there is a meeting of all the members of the club for nomination, Fortunately there To-day is Friday place on ladies with me whe Whippet, and 1 which, are several other ire opposed to Mrs ceived a brilliant ide: r hely have ¢ with th “What “Simply this: I shall speak of the of having at the head of the club a we 1 whose home shall be carried out.” desirability fe is as well condueted as her public life. I fact that a wo man who gets up and talks inp shall lay stress on the no matter how learnedly or beautifully, can have no permanent valve unless she knows how to manage her own home, And then I shall have some one to back me up and make the sug- estion that a tour of inspection he made at once and without warning of the home of every woman present wh has any idea of running fer the presi dency. The motion will be seconded, No one—especially Mrs. Whippet— will dare object, and the result will he that Mrs. Whippet Her shiftlessness will be known. Im- will be exposed. agine what her house is on Monday! Wash day! That will end her all right.” “ Splendid! " said Dimpleton, feebly At the same time his heart sank within him, He saw that if his wife's nefarious scheme was carried through comicbooks.com