Life, 1906-09-06 · page 14 of 40
Life — September 6, 1906 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical cartoon sequence titled "Why They Married," which uses insect and human couples to mock courtship and marriage motivations. The first panel depicts Mr. Butterfly Flitter—described as handsome and gay—who dallied too long near a flower and was caught, forced into marriage. This is a playful metaphor: men distracted by frivolous pleasures lose their freedom. The second panel shows a gentleman who married "the forceful Miss Howe" because he wanted her sympathy. The joke's punchline: he now has *everyone's* sympathy instead—implying his marriage to a domineering woman has made him pitiable. The cartoons satirize how people marry for superficial or self-defeating reasons: attraction, desperation, or false assumptions about what marriage provides. The anthropomorphized insects and the deadpan captions create humor by treating serious life decisions as absurdly inevitable consequences of momentary weakness or miscalculation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
250 Our Fresh Air Fund REVIOUSLY acknowledged Merriewold Park Club. Total Acknowledged with Thanks 3 barrels of Crackers, from Chatland & Lenhart, Brownsville, Pa. ‘Tafly-Tolu Gum, from Colgan Gum Company, n, from John Carle & Sons, Fs, soo circulars for Live's from Mrs. 2. Higgins, Varrytown, N.Y. That widow.” S died respected by everybody.” so? I thought he left a *LIFE: The American Drama HE manager sat in his easy chair And spoke of the plans he had in air To the newspaper man, who sat agape Inscribing words for the morning “ pape “Th’ American drama has come to stay, It's arrived for sure, it's bound to pay. I want all the native plays I can get, So bring ‘em along; but don’t forget To mention that while I was in France Thad the good fortune and seized the chance To secure some dramas by V. Sardou, Maurice Donnay and Berton, too. Hervicu and Bisson have written for me, And for something new Rostand’s his fee. Yes, there is no doubt, and a; Th’ American drama has co | that the public here plays, I never had fear To put ona pi in American wrote; But, incidentally, you might note That while I was over in London town T paid important royalties down in I say to stay <li “eg MR, BUTTERYLY FLITTER WAS HANDSOME AND GAY; WHY, 18'D NE'ER GIVEN MARRIAGE A TI BUT ME DALLIED TOO LONG BY A FLOWER ONE DAY, AND BEFORE ME COULD FLIT ME was cavonT! WHY THEY MARRIED For Pincro’s latest and Jones's best; And onc by Hicks that had stood the test. I also got from Sims and Raleigh A melodrama red and gory. Yes! Quote me strong, for again I say, Th’ American drama has come to stay. Oh! by the bye, if there is no hitch T'll probably do a play by Fitch.” Edward Fales Coward. H CLIMBED down from the pay car with his month’s wages still in his hand. “Sure, ye must be feelin’ rich, Pat, with all ye have there,” said a bystander. “And what does this signify to me,” answered Pat: “just two looks, wan whin I get it, and wan whin I give it to the ould woman.” N CHINA they are emancipating the women’s feet; here we have got as far as the head. ME WAS A GENTLE AND SENSITIVE citar, pont. Ne MARRIED THE YORCEYUL Miss NOwE; HE WANTED HER SYMPATHY, DID THE MoR vaP— ME HAS EVERY ONE'S SyMPATHY Now! comicbooks.com