Life — May 17, 1906 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon mocking a woman's illogical reasoning. The scene depicts what appears to be a formal evening gathering with a woman in an elegant gown and two men in formal attire discussing a relocated sundial. The joke targets female stupidity (a common stereotype in early 20th-century humor): the woman, "Amy," has moved a sundial—an instrument that tells time using sunlight—so moonlight can shine on it at night. This reveals absurd logic, since a sundial cannot function without the sun. The satire reflects period attitudes about women's intelligence and decision-making capabilities, presenting her reasoning as laughably flawed. The formal setting emphasizes the social awkwardness of her foolishness among refined company.