Life, 1907-09-12 · page 9 of 24
Life — September 12, 1907 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page contains three satirical pieces about courtship and marriage: 1. **"A Dinner Call"** (top illustration): Shows a woman at a gate, likely depicting the challenge of private courting moments given early 20th-century social constraints. 2. **"Passing of the Tête-à-Tête"** (middle section): A text commentary lamenting that lovers can no longer find solitude. It critiques modern intrusions—automobiles, telephones, and public spaces—that have eliminated private moments. The piece sarcastically notes that back parlors once offered refuge but are now replaced by stock tickers and servant access. 3. **"The Patent Nostrum Gentleman"** (bottom advertisement parody): A caricatured figure hawking "Shark's Headache Powder." The caption mockingly questions whether this dubious patent medicine reflects benevolence or mercenary exploitation. Overall, the page satirizes changing social norms and commercialism's invasion of private life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“EPFE: Passing of the Téte-a-Téte iy THERE seems to be no hope for lovers any a 1 more, except to take the public into their 7 confidence. / For where can we be alone with our best girl? Nature at one time offered several re- treats for this purpose. It was possible to secrete your girl in a glen, or lovers’ lane, where with a few low, passionate words you could make her acquainted with your feelings. Now, however, prac- tically every point of real solitude is covered by observation cars or secing-the-landscape automobiles. ‘At one time back parlors were places of refuge for people who were interested exclusively in each other, The back parlor now, however, is about the only place where the stock-ticker and the telephone can be kept from the servants. And the long distance may call up papa at any moment. Science should remedy this important matter at once. Lovers’ booths should be established wherever necessary. For a small nominal sum a man ought to be able to be alone with his best girl long enough to get acquainted with her. It is extremely awkward to be obliged to kiss a girl in a parlor-car full of people, at a crowded reception or in the presence of one’s chauffeur. A certain amount of exclusiveness is demanded, even by those who have learned not to quail at anything. 313 Booths may be divided into three classes—preliminary, courtship and engagement. After marriage one may com- fortably settle back into an innocuous publicity. But future generations demand that we may still be permitted to make love without being listened to. Classified : (heatedly) : George, I wonder you can maint Mr. Jones is kind to his wife! He has been Chicago for two weeks and hasn't sent hera cent. Wha ness do you call that ? Huspanp: Unremitting kindness, my dear. Golf and Matrimony A AN illustration of the enthusiasm with which golf is pur- sued by its votaries, the following anecdote is told of a ‘The two e close well-known Scotch author and a young friend of his had spent the whole day on the links, and had had sc and exciting matches. As they left for home the elder man remarked : “Do you think ye could play to-morrow, laddie “Well,” answered the youth, “I was to be married to- morrow, but I can put it off.” E SHOULD not show all our faults at once to the wo! who loves us—that is, if we desire to have her keep on loving us. il eth: | THE PATENT NOSTRUM GENTLEMAN SEE THE MAN'S FACE. IS IT NOT A NICE THING? IS 1T NOT WHOLE- SOME, YRANK AND GOOD? YES, IT NOT IS. WHAT TRADE GOES WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EXPRESSION OF BENEVOLENCE? IS UE A MUR- DERER? HEAVENS! WHAT A QUESTION. NO, DEAR, OF COURSE NOT. HE OWNS A HARMLESS PATENT MEDICINE. OH, THEN HE HELPS HUMANITY? SURELY, HE HELPS A LOT OP THEM INTO A BETTER WORLD. comicbooks.com