Life, 1909-03-04 · page 18 of 44
Life — March 4, 1909 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical story about the Chubleys, a contented middle-class couple. Mr. Chubley daydreams about acquiring luxuries—a new house ($18,000), an automobile ($3,000), clothes, and a horse—mentally calculating the expenses while his wife wisely reminds him such fantasies are pointless given their contentment. The joke arrives when they receive an unexpected inheritance of $50,000 from his estranged uncle, allowing them to actually pursue these dreams. The satire targets American consumer culture and materialism: the story suggests that once financial barriers disappear, people immediately abandon philosophical contentment to chase previously-fantasized possessions. The accompanying illustrations show the couple and various figures in period dress, emphasizing the "March" (satirical) theme of Life magazine. The humor lies in exposing how quickly practicality and desire overcome the couple's earlier wisdom about happiness.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
When Our Dreams Come True D MRS. CHUBLEY were sitting at their break- fast table smiling at each other contentedly with looks of love undiminished by several years of con- nubial companionship. “It does seem a great pity,’ said Mr. Chubley, with a slight tone of protest in his voice, “that in this world we can't have occasionally just the things was talking with Skilton, the real estate man yesterday, and he said the Branter house is for sale. Just the house we want to live in. It has two bathrooms. Wouldn't it be fine to have two bathrooms? Then it has a barn, and room enough in back for a splendid little How you would enjoy a garden, my dear."’ “Yes.” said Mrs. Chubley, always craved a garden.” Mr. Chubley was rapidly losing him- self in the contemplation of his desires. “Wouldn't it he repeated, “if we could just move into that house; then suppose—just suppose—I could buy that automobile I've been looking at. My! but then we would be well fixed, wouldn't we? Let's see, $18,000 for the house, $3,000 for the auto. Then you would have to have some clothes to go with it, You wouldn't want to stin yourself, of course. Say $500 for the clothes. Then it would be nice to have a horse and a quiet rig for you and the children—say I would nat- urally run the auto myself—! know I could easily learn—but it would require some extra money for emergencies and fixings. Put it down $1,000 more. Then the house— Mrs. “hubley interrupted her husband with a gesture and a smile “You dear, silly, old thin; “why waste your time in such fancies? Are we not happy as it is? Think of how we have lived together all these years without a cross word! It is surely wicked to complain. Of course I would like these things, but what is the use? "* we want. I irden. I have be fine,” 00 more. she said, Mr. Chubley raised his ey in mild masculine protest At this moment the mail was brought in “Certainly, my dear,” he said, “it is of no real use, but isn’t it nice once in a while, just to sit back and have some fun in one’s mind? Ah, well, it’s all over, and [ must go to work.”” He shuffled over the letters. “ Nothing, apparently, but bills. Hello! What's this? A letter from lawyers. He tore open the envelope hastily and read as follows: Deor Sir: By the terms of your late uncle’s will you were left $50,000 in cash, a check for which we present herewith, Please fill out the en- closed formal release before a notary and re: to us Respectfully_yours, Ciasson & Suytne, Attorneys for the Estate, Having finished, Mr. Chubley, too astonished to say more, looked at his wife silently for some moments. “Well !!’? he exclaimed, at last, “did you ever? To think that I didn’t even take the trouble to bother about Uncle c's will, after that quarrel I had with him, And here it is out of a clear sky. He held up the check. “It can't be true!" exclaimed Mrs Chubley. “Why, your uncle positively disinherited you. 1 didn't suppose— Ah," replied Chubley, “you never can tell, you never can tell! He must have been sorry. At any rate, here we are with the money. Come now, let's waste no time. Isn't it wonderful I should have already laid plans to spend it. Come, my dear, we'll carry out our programme to the letter. For once in our lives we will realize our desires.”* Mrs. Chubley, almost delirious with sudden joy, obeyed her husband mechan- ically. Together they started out on their quest. The check duly de- posited. The real estate agent was scen and the coveted house bought. Chubley hastened to the automobile agency and lost no time in ordering his ma- chine. When told that he would have to wait a week for its delivery he be Mr, 5 ° DARN YOU REAL AGENTS! DIDN'T I TELL you 1 LOW, SWAMPY, WET GROUND? ESTATE WANTED came furious with impatience and re- strained himself with difficulty the rest of the day. During the next month both of these fortunate people were terribly busy. Mrs. Chubley shopped. Mr. Chubley re- plenished his wardrobe, arranged with carpenters to make alterations, became on intimate terms with automobile dealers, and did a hundred ond one things that he had always wanted to do. So busy were they for a long time that they scarcely had time to breathe. But at last, at the end of two months, they were settled in their new quarters. NE morning they sat once more at their breakfast table. A new maid with a new cap on her head, waited on them. Mr. Chubley hardly waited to finish his coffee, before he lighted a large, ele! perfecto cigar. My dear,”* said his wife, “I do wish you would wait until you get out before filling the house with your vile tobacco smoke."" Her husband threw back his head. “Tike that!" he exclaimed; “I guess I'll do as I please in my own house. Huh! Look here! I may-not be back to-night. I'm going on a little trip in the machine.”* “Well, go! I'm comicbooks.com