Life, 1908-04-02 · page 21 of 44
Life — April 2, 1908 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical matchmaking game where readers select hypothetical spouses from five women and five men, then write humorous four-line verses explaining their choice. The humor lies in the brutally honest character descriptions that expose what people *actually* consider in marriage. The women's descriptions highlight dowries, temperament, and domestic qualities ("Very fond of society. Breakfast invariably in bed"). The men's descriptions emphasize income, stability, and personality flaws ("Good disposition. Not fond of work"). The satire targets both genders: women are evaluated primarily for wealth and appearance; men for earning potential and reliability. The contest mocks the mercenary calculations underlying "respectable" marriages of the Edwardian era, while the crude character summaries suggest that genuine compatibility matters far less than financial security and avoiding obvious character defects. The $200 prize suggests this was a popular, participatory feature—readers could win money by crafting the cleverest satirical verses about matrimonial compromise.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Very high church. apoplectic uncle. Kind heart but irritable when crossed. Devotée of bridge. Rich, travagant. Life’s. Marriage Contest. HIS is a double contest, with two sets of prizes, one for men and the other for women. After selecting 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: : be incline me mine 1 2 Lively wit. Amusing Good dis talker. ‘Seldom at home. of work. Cofice merchant. Bold spec- elator. Income uncertain. ‘This competition is open freely to all who may desire to compete ced not be subscribers for LIVE in order to be entitled to compere for the prizes offered Generally amiable, but has occasional fits of temper Fond of matinées. No dowry. Rapid talker. ition. Not fond ‘as once engaged to three girls at same time. 4 5 Widow. No encumbrances. Very fond of society. Break- $2,000 year, unencum- Ex. Gentle, loving disposition. fast invariably in bed. No bered. Fond of light fiction. $12,000 a year income. Eco- dowry. Nervous. Wants to Very disorderly. Always late pomical. IF YOU HAD TO MARRY ONE OF THESE WOMEN, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? In cach case the answer to be in a four- line verse which ends in any four of the eight 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 By “Uncle’s” purse strings led. ONE 3 Fairly good health. Retired from business. Domestic. Un- sympathetic, but soul of honor. Millionaire. be an actress. an insurance company. out charge of consideration of any kind, but has a warm heart, Two Hundred Dollars to Contestants Or, if youare 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. OF THESE MEN, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? ‘4 5 Poetical temperament. Never long in same busi. Fond of ladies. Attimesaffec- ness. Sporting tastes. Fond tionate. Salary of $1,200 in of travel. Rather jolly. In- come irregular. Prospective contestants comicbooks.com