Life, 1909-01-07 · page 36 of 60
Life — January 7, 1909 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story mocks the rigidly methodical businessman Henry B. Kenyon through young suitor Jim Tuttle's courtship approach. The humor lies in Tuttle strategically adopting the father's own obsessive punctuality and business-like formality to win approval—arriving exactly on time and even writing a formal letter requesting a scheduled appointment. Kenyon's character embodies exaggerated Victorian-era business propriety: he's so devoted to schedule-keeping that he's almost disappointed Tuttle *didn't* arrive late, thus giving him grounds for rejection. His cross-examination of Tuttle about frequency and duration of visits with his daughter Adelaide applies cold business metrics to romance, treating courtship as a transaction requiring documented evidence. The satire targets how such rigid, humorless adherence to "proper procedure" becomes absurd when applied to human relationships. The top illustration—showing a moose disrupting motorists in Maine—reinforces the theme: nature (and love) are messy, unpredictable forces that resist orderly scheduling.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MOTORING IN MAINE HAS 1TS DRAWBACKS A Schedule of Love R SI I have reason to believe that [am in love with your daughter Adelaide, and if agrecable to you I will call at your office at 2:30 P. M. to-morrow to obtain formally your permission to pay my ad- dresses to her. I am, Sir, Yours respectfully, James Tortie. To Hexry B. Kexvox, Eso. Mr. Henry B. Kenyon had the reputation of being the most me- thodical man of business in town. Young Jim Tuttle not only knew this, but with the keen instincts of youth, realized its importance. He had made up his mind, therefore, that it would be wisest and Lest in the long run to meet his hoped for father-in-law on his own ground. He had dispatched his letter by mes- senger boy to the old gentleman on the day previous, and now, just thirty seconds ahead of time, in obedience to the clerk's instructions, he opened the door to his private office. Mr. Kenyon was sitting at his desk, erect and martial as a soldier. His side whiskers, white and thin but care- fully brushed, fri the sides of his cheeks formidably. His keen blue eyes took in young Tuttle at a glance. He took out his watch. An expression of satisfaction came over him as he looked at it. “Young man, be seated. Glad to sce that you are on time. Nothing more annoying than people who don't keep their appointments. I make a rule never to wait for them. Tf you had been one minute late, 1 wouldn't have seer you.” He paused, and looked half belligerently at Tuttle, as if he was almost sorry that he had been on time. “And now, sir,” he exclaimed, “to business. You love my daughte “TL have every reason to believe so, si “How many times have you seen her “Three or four times.” “Come! Be exact. “ How long at a time?” “T should say the average was thirty minutes.” lone?” No, sir.” “Um. The world certainly moves faster than when I was a boy. However, I will not dispute your word. (Continued on page 38.) comicbooks.com