Life, 1907-11-28 · page 6 of 20
Life — November 28, 1907 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a domestic humor cartoon and story about a married couple, the Hopsons. The cartoon depicts a woman (Mrs. Hopson) confronting a man (presumably Mr. Hopson) about how long he'll keep her waiting, while he's occupied with what appears to be a new appliance or gadget. The accompanying story satirizes how Mr. Hopson has become obsessed with a new cook he hired, neglecting his wife. Mrs. Hopson sarcastically notes that men are "so different from women"—implying they're distracted by novelty and easily manipulated. The humor targets early 20th-century gender dynamics, particularly men's superficiality and wives' strategic use of domestic management to maintain household control.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“HOW MUCH LONGER ARE YO “WELL, NOW THAT I'VE LAC! SHOES, I WON'T BE A MINUTE.” GOING TO KEEP ME WAITING, JOHN?” YOUR CORSETS, AND BUTTONED YOUR WAIST, AND HOOKED YOUR SKIRT, AND TIED youk he signified his appreciation by a second help- 4 ing of turkey. ‘Everything tastes delightful. New cook, eh? Where did you get her?” “Oh,” said Mrs. Hopson, with a bright smile, “‘I flatter myself I know a thing or two. This woman was cooking for Mrs. Twicken- ham, and by using a little tact and persuasion, I got her to come with me.” Hopson laid down his knife with a gesture of anger, while he shook his head solemnly. “It does beat me,” he said, “how little sense of honor you women have. There is Mrs. Twicken- ham, your best friend, and you had not the slight- est scruple against playing upon her a trick like that! By Jove! It takes away all my enjoyment!” “Never mind, darling,” said Mrs. Hopson, with a suspicious cheerfulness. ‘We can go out to ride in the auto after dinner, and you will forget all about it. By the way, your new chauffeur is turning out well, isn’t he?” As his hobby was mentioned, Hopson’s eye brightened. “Splendid!” he cried. “He's a wonder.” Mrs. Hopson looked at him critically. “Your bosom friend, Robins, must have been quite put out when he heard that you had offered this ‘wonder’ more money and got him away. Eh, dear?” Hopson laid down his knife once more and gazed at his wife in consternation. “How the devil did you know that?” he asked. “Why, you were boasting of it yourself, this morning,” said Mrs. Hopson. “Only,” she added with a smile, ‘‘some- how it doesn’t soucd quite the same now, does it? You men, you know, are so dift:rent from us women.”