Life, 1908-01-09 · page 6 of 22
Life — January 9, 1908 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration depicts a social gathering of upper-class women in period dress, with one woman kneeling or bowing before others in what appears to be a gesture of deference or supplication. The caption reads "The Exalted One: what is the market price for divorce? The Grovelling One: singly or in quantities, sir?" This satirizes the commodification of divorce among the wealthy, mocking both the presumed ease with which affluent women obtain divorces and the mercenary attitudes toward marriage dissolution. The "exalted one" treats divorce as a casual market transaction, while the "grovelling one" responds with crass commercial language—suggesting divorce has become a trivial commodity rather than a serious legal matter. The satire critiques upper-class moral degradation and the trivialization of marriage.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
50 What a Difference a Hundred Years Make The Débutante 1808, ilk the cow. 7.30 A.M.—Load bullets. 8.15 A.M.—Weave three and one-third yards linen. 9 A.M.—Dodge Indians. 10.03 A.M.—Do something heroic to pass down to descendants. 11.15 A.M.—Go down to beach to watch the Mayflower come in 12 ut.—Eat. 1.15 P.M.—Water the turkeys. 2.40 P.at.—Dodge Indians. 3-10 P.M.—Worry about sweetheart 4 P.M.—Pick arrows out of the pig. 4:50 PAL—Milk the cow. 5-15 P.M.—Eat. 6.30 P.M.—Listen to father read the Bible. 7 P.M.—Go to bed. 1908. 10 A.M.—Breakfast in bed. 10.30 A.M.—Have hair dres: tr A.M.—Answer invitations. 11.45 A.M.—Complete financial arrange- ments with Count Brokski. 12.15 A.M.—Reject seven suitors. 1.30 P. 2.45 P. 4-15 Ps 5.20 P. 5.45 P.M.—Two more teas. 6.15 P.M.—Listen to father read the latest murder trial. 6.30 P.at.—Read novels. 8 p.aw.—A dinner. 9-15 P.M.—Theatre. (“Mrs. Warren’s Profession.”) 10.55 P.M.—See the man she really loves. ir P.at.—Cotillion. 2.30 A.M.—Tell mother all about the day. 3 AMe—Retire. pruntey Child. Society Suggestions Dear Life: The young men who go to dances in this town need stirring up. ‘They don't attend to their duties as they should, and, as a group, are altogether too back- ward about coming forward and dancing with the girls. Can you suggest anything to stimulate their energies and ardor ? Yours sincerely, Hester D, Buraxte. HY not issue to the girls such punches as railroad conductors use, and to the young men tickets with num- The Exalted One: WHAT IS THE MARKET PRICE FOR DIVORCE? The Grovelling One: s bered squares on them corresponding to the dances. Then rule that men who have not had a reasonable number of dances punched out of their tickets by their partners shall have no supper. It is absurd to feed men at dances who won’t dance. Changes in Boston THT was a very amusing, appalling and instructive shock that Boston got the other day when its Common Council voted to change the name of North Square to Scigliano Square. ‘The Common Council meant no harm. “North Square’? as a name meant noth- ing to them. Paul Revere and the American Revolution were either un- INGLY OR IN QUANTITIES, SIRE? known to them, or vague and remote considerations that stirred no emotions in them, whereas Scigliano had been a good young Dago alderman, now, to be sure, no more, but whose friends were alive and voting, and wanted his services commem- orated in the city in which he had lived. The ensuing jolt was so violent that doubtless the aldermen have reversed their action, but what an amazingly in- structive incident! A Martyr ae AMMA, have I got to take a bath to-night?” “I'm afraid you have, my dear.” “But I haven’t done anything all the week to deserve it.” comicbooks.com