Life, 1908-12-03 · page 39 of 68
Life — December 3, 1908 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces targeting domestic and social complaints: **Top cartoon** ("Land Sakes, Hiram"): A rural couple gossips about a young woman's impropriety—she's attending a Methodist social event with a city man, behavior they find scandalous. The joke mocks small-town moral judgment and the gap between rural and urban social standards. **Middle text block** ("Heard in Some Households"): A list of exaggerated complaints a wife supposedly makes to her husband—driving him to desperation, making life "hell on earth," etc. The satire targets wives who constantly complain and emotionally manipulate their husbands, portraying them as unreasonably demanding and theatrical about minor grievances. **Bottom anecdote**: A church rector is asked to pray for someone, with the caveat "unless it is already engaged"—implying prayer slots are so competitive they book up. The joke satirizes superficial religiosity and the fashionable performance of piety. Overall, the page mocks women's complaints, small-town prudishness, and insincere religious practice—representing attitudes typical of early-20th-century American satirical magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SOME PEOPLE EXPECT Sv MUCH MORE THAN OTHERS Heard in Some House- holds BSOLUTELY no con- sideration for You are driving me to des- peration: Your treatment is beyond endurance. A weaker woman would be driven into a mad-house I am. surely losing my mind I never have a moment's Peace. You are making my li hell on eart You are driving me to an early grave. [isin ail worn Oe bone. Never getvone kind wo Oh, why did I leave home I can never open my mouth. Oh, if the grave would only open and take me in. m all unstrung Iam on the verge of nerv- ous prostration. F. J. WV. NARRISSM: CADY “LAND SAKES, HIRAM; THER! THAT ‘MULLINS GAL WITH THET CITY FELLER, AND THE HUSSY TOLD HER MAW SHE WAS GOING TO THE METHODIST SOCIABLE OVER ON JUPITER!" Hopeful T rector of an American church on the RS. O'TOOLE e's takin’ on’awful. Her Continent was recently accosted by M husband got three years—but he kin git charming young woman who asked if he would twelve months off for good behavior. be kind enough to say the prayer for those a’ Mes. Doorxy: Tell her to rest aisy. Sure an, sea for her on the following Sunday—* unless.”” he may not behave himself. she added modestly, “it is already engaged.”" MOIST WITH HIS OWN PETARD comicbooks.com