Life, 1908-03-26 · page 9 of 22
Life — March 26, 1908 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical "marriage contest" where readers choose which woman or man they'd most want to marry based on brief character descriptions. The humor relies on stereotypical female and male archetypes of the era. The women are described by wealth and marital desirability (a "very high church" wealthy woman, a "widow," actresses, etc.). The men include a "lively wit" coffee merchant, a man with "good disposition" but unemployed, a retired businessman, and others with various professional or character traits. The satire mocks how both genders were evaluated as marriage prospects based on superficial traits—women primarily by looks and social standing, men by financial security and temperament. The $200 prize suggests this was a genuine reader-participation contest, not purely satirical commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Very high church. Rich, apoplectic uncle. Kind heart but irritable when crossed. Devotée of bridge. IF YOU HAD occasional fits travagant. No dowry. Life’s Marriage Contest. HIS is a double contest, with two sets of prizes, one for men and the other for women. After sclecting your life partner, fill in the following lines, with the reasons for your choice, and return, with your name and address plainly written, to the Editor of Lire, 17 West Thirty-first St., New York: 1 Lively wit. Amusing talker. ‘Seldom at home. Cotfee merchant. Bold spec: elior. of work, Tncome uncertain. This competition is opea freely to all who may desive to compete. without char ced not he subscribers for LIFE in onuer to Le entitled Generally amiable, but has temper. Ex- Fond of matinées. Rapid talker. Cond dion. Not fond Was once engaged = from bus to three girls at same time. Widow. No encumbrances. Gentle, loving — disposition. $12,000 a year income. Eco- nomical. dowry. In each case the answer to be in a four- line verse which ends in any four of the cight words given above, For example, if you are a man and you select the lady marked No. 1, your answer might be as follows No.1 “Kind heart” is good enough for me, You are the one I'll wed. Bridge player you can always be Ry “Uncle's” purse strings led. erntontl act. Break fast invariably in N Nervous. be an actress. $2,000 a year, unencum- bered.. Fond of light fiction. Very disorderly. Always late but has a warm beart. Wants to TO MARRY ONE OF THESE WOMEN, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Two Hundred Dollars to Contestants Or, if you are a woman, your answer may be: No. 3 Dear Millionaire, your health I know May be, indeed, a cause for woe. In spite of this, still I incline Quite sordidly to make thee mine. For the cleverest three rhymes in the opinion of the editors, Lire will pay, in order of merit, $50, $30 and $20 to each set of contestants. The contest will close on May 18, 1908, at noon, ONE OF THESE MEN, WHICH WOULD YOU, CHOOSE? 3 Fairly good health. Retired siness. Domestic. Un- sympathetic, but soulof honor. Millionaire. Poetical temperament. Fond of ladies. Attimesaffec- ness. tionate. an insurance company. or consideration of any kind. pete for the prizes offered ‘ Never long in same busi- Sporting tastes. Fond of travel. Rather jolly, In- come irregular. Salary of $1,200 in Prospective contestants comicbooks.com