Life, 1909-03-11 · page 13 of 36
Life — March 11, 1909 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces about early 20th-century American society: **"Fashion"** mocks fashion's tyranny—the compulsion to constantly adopt new styles regardless of practicality. The essay critiques how fashionable people slavishly follow trends, with Elis O. Jones noting that being fashionable now means adopting styles before others do. **"A Sameness"** presents a humorous dialogue between a man and woman about their past, suggesting romantic nostalgia. **"Two Souls That Button As One"** jokes about marriage between a preacher and his wife, with the mother's observation that having two people "button up the back" (meaning they work as one unit) creates domestic friction. The cartoons and illustrations throughout satirize contemporary fashion absurdities and social conventions of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LAME ies Fashion HE most meek and willing slaves on the face of the earth are the slaves of fashion. They will spend their last cent for new masters and new chains, Fashion is the art of which “do it now’ is the motto, of which “get the money ’” is the science, of which having money is the luck, of which getting rid of it the philosophy, of which making a splurge is the point, of which being a leader of fashion is the sum- mum bonum. Formerly to be fashionable was to wear what others were wearing, but the fashions change, even in fashions. To be fashionable now, in the age of speed and nervous prostration, is to wear what every- body is going to wear and quit wearing it before everybody else be- gins. Ellis 0. Jones. A Sameness “YE * says the lady, after an acquaintance of ten or fi teen years before has been renewed, “1 remember you perfectly.” “Indeed?'’ murmurs the gratified man. “I am glad to know that.’’ “Yes, at one time I thought of marrying you.”” “O," he replies, dejectedly, “I thought for the moment that there might have been something that made me different from all the other men you ever knew."’ Her figure was full of alluring curves. T is a rare man who can wander about in a dry goods store without blushing. “THEM SLEEVES 18 TOO GOL DERN sHoRT.’” NOT AT ALL—THPY’RE WEARING SLEEVES VERY SHORT THIS SEASON.” Two Souls That Button As One L_'TTLE MAUD: 1 shouldo’t think anyone would want to arry a preacher. : wer: Why not, dear? Livre Mavp: Well, there's enough fuss when just one n in the house buttons up the back. It must be awful n there are two. Another Merger E’ IDENCE of the widespread tendency toward combina- tions is forcibly thrust upon us in the announcement Manager McGraw, of the New York Nationals, has en- cd Arlie Latham, not because he can play ball, but solely use he is a good entertainer on the coaching lines. Does mean that baseball is losing its power to entertain, and the vaudeville trust view this encroachment with alarm, Joes it merely offer further assurance that even a baseball ond’s a stage.? Miss Hippo: 1 yust avorr, THESE EMPIRE COWNS, THEY linet suits are being very generally worn this spring. MAKE YOU LOOK SO TALL AND SLENDER. comicbooks.com