Life, 1909-03-11 · page 20 of 36
Life — March 11, 1909 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes early 20th-century women's fashion, specifically the restrictive corset culture. **The Main Cartoon:** The silhouette series titled "Shadows of the Past" shows the evolution of women's clothing styles, documenting historical fashion changes. **The Boudoir Dialogue:** The central joke mocks women complaining about corsets while wearing them anyway. Two women discuss how corsets are "abominable," cause breathing difficulty, restrict walking, and cost $25—yet they continue wearing them, accepting the discomfort as normal ("second nature"). The satire critiques both the impracticality of the fashion and women's apparent acceptance of self-inflicted suffering for appearance. **Additional Content:** A poem about a "weskit" (vest/corset); a brief exchange about marriage prospects; and a French corset advertisement (likely included ironically, given the page's criticism of corsets). **Historical Context:** This reflects the Progressive Era debate over women's fashion and freedom, predating widespread adoption of less restrictive clothing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SHADOWS OF THE PAST Cardprints RIZES of bridge-fiends remind us We can make our scores sublime, If we read Street, Elwell, Foster, Morning, noon and evening time, OMAN may become President, but she won't Secret Service Department. fit in the Transmitted WO women were talking in a boudoir. The door was locked. There was no one in the hall outside. There were no reporters hanging on the eaves. In short, there wasn't the remotest possibility of any one hearing them And yet this is what they said: “Does my rat show?” “Not a bit. Wait. It needs just a touch. “Thanks ever so much. hate to get into this.”’ “So do I—positively suffer.” “ Binds one so.”" “ Hideous, too.” “Awful. When will the style change? Do you mind drawing that a little tighter? Thanks.’” “And mine? Thanks. can't breathe."" "Never mind. You'll get used to it in a few moments. I feel better already. Do you have any trouble in walking?" “Do I! I feel as if I were on a tight-rope. These corsets are simply abominable. And I paid twenty- five dollars for them."’ “Why don’t you try my place. Really, they do very well.’" “IT shall. Anything for relief! Your strap will fall off."" “No, it won't. I have learned to keep hitching it =p mechanically —second nature now. Your powder shows."” “It will wear off by the time I get there, I always like to start with plenty. Are you ready?”’ There!"* Maybe I don't Oh, I HATEVER became of the man STREET SMOKING SUIT who ran on the ticket with FOR YOUNG GIRLS Taft? Lines on a White Weskit Recovered from a Son ELCOME sweet morn that brings my weskit home, No more to roam; Round my inside hereafter to abide; Nor any more, On waxened floor, Youth's fleeting, flickering rhapsodies pursue, ‘Gainst frocks of various hue, Nor ever guess, nor dream, nor care, who's who— But evermore In calm of age to spread Over what basket holds the evening bread And things that waiters pour. B.S. M. HE DAUGHTER: What objection have you to my mar- rying him, mamma? Tue Motner: Because, dear, I think you can do better “ But couldn’t I always do better?” P AT, did you bring back my umbrella? ’" No, sor. Whin I coome impty-handed I'll bring it."” CHEZ LA REINE DU CORSET M™ C, GUILLOT 10, rue de la Palx, 10 — PARIS CORSET GAINE-COMBINAISON La Mode et les Sports ont inspiré cette création. Véritable maillot, il moule le corps depuis !a poitrine jusqu’au-dessous du genoux, en des lignes harmonieuses et souples, sans Ie moindre pli ou marque, méme sous [a plus légére des robes. For the further education of our readers we reprint this adver: tisement without expense to Mme. C. Guillot. comicbooks.com