Life, 1909-03-18 · page 12 of 32
Life — March 18, 1909 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a satirical dialogue between a husband and wife discussing their mundane married life. The humor targets the gap between romantic expectations and reality: she mentions London trips and golf games; he admits to working "like a slave" at the office. The satire mocks their attempts to maintain novelty—she suggests carving a duck every Sunday, he proposes kissing—yet both recognize these gestures feel forced and artificial. The conversation culminates with him kissing her, but the stage direction notes she's "reflecting" rather than engaged, suggesting emotional distance beneath surface affection. The accompanying illustrations—a couple on a porch and a roasted peanuts vendor—humorously underscore the mundane, disconnected nature of modern marriage and courtship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
364 Modern The romance has gone out of the American girl's life— From an interview with a high literary lady. Scexe: A reception room. A young fellow and a young girl are standing near each other. There is a phonograph playing in the distance and the sound of voices, indicating that they have just happened to meet in there. How was it over in London? : Beastly. Awfully glad to get back. What have you been doing with yourself? He: Working like a slavey at the office. Still I have man caged to get to a week ender or two. But my golf game has xone rotten. How's yours? Sur: So so. I’ve been out of condition for ever so long Motoring makes one lazy. What's up? :Oh nothing sudden, nothing to get woozy about. But thinking that we might bit it off somehow. What do Nonsense, Harry. You're a ripping sort, of course, and we always have been pals, but we'd be lining up against each other all the time—after the first six months. He: I'm not so sure of that, Iam a pleasant boy as they go. You never saw me ruffled. Sue (reflectively) : Well, no, you're cheerful, and that’s a great point. It would seem strange, wouldn't it? He: Well, rather! But it’s the novelty of the thing that appeals to me. And then, by Jove, Helen, girlie, you are a stunner, you know. And you wear such decent clothes. You're all to the good Sue: I never knew you to be sentimental, Harry! You're not going soft, are you? He: On the level, no. But it’s business to tie up to a girl like you. We'd grand team, and as for the oof. Sie: Ob, that doesn't matter. We could scrape along. I never bother about that any more. One can put up at a camp in the summer, and amusements are so cheap. Besides, one doesn’t have to play bridge for cash any more. But Harry, WHERE TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE dear, it does seem funny, doesn’t it? Think of me putting fos your dressing sack over the radiator. Think of me asking you for an extra tenner on account of an old college chum to dinner! Hs: Hat Think of me toasting my toes in worsted slip- pers before the cannel coal. Think of me carving the duck every Sunday— Sur: Oh, we wouldn’t have it every Sunday, you goose! He: Well, it's only a fancy. But it does seem strange, doesn't it? And, yet, why not? Sue: I can't quite get used to the idea. He: Make a stab at it. Dwell on it. I say—how would it do for me to kiss you? : How absurd! That's all right, but it might help. Do you mind? : Not if you don’t. But it seems so awfully rummy, ‘ou know. Oh well, here goes! (kisses her). (There is a silence, She is reflecting. He is waiting for her to adjust herself.) Suz (looking up thoughtfully at last): Do you know, old chap, there may be something after all in what you were say- ing. (Voices grow nearer. They are about to be interrupted.) At any rate, we'll think it over, won’t we? RS. YOUNGWIFE: What is the first question you ask of a maid whom you think of employing? Mrs, Oxvoxe: I always say first, “Have you ever lived THIS MUST BE ONE OF THOSE RESTAURANTS “wit MUsIC’’! with me before.” comicbooks.com