Life, 1909-05-27 · page 13 of 32
Life — May 27, 1909 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains satirical commentary on marriage and domestic life. The main essay titled "Marriage" by Walter F. Rice describes marriage as "the biggest trust on earth" whose "capital stock is love." The piece humorously critiques marriage as a struggling financial institution, comparing it to a poorly-managed business that doesn't pay dividends. The accompanying cartoons mock marital discord and gender relations. One shows a man with a headache asking his wife about remedies, with the punchline about kissing her upon returning home. Another depicts a honeymoon scene with cave-dwelling figures throwing rocks—likely satirizing primitive or base human behavior underlying supposedly refined matrimonial institutions. The satire targets both marriage's financial precariousness and domestic unhappiness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
~LIPE~ Marriage MiA8RAGE is a divine institution so ably managed by man it is not yet on a dividend paying basis. that although it has been doing business for several thou sand years, s the biggest trust on earth, for its capital stock is love. consisting of two-thirds faith, which is preferred, and one-third Ineluctable TERNALLY, at intervals, the eter- nal feminine becomes bored by its eternality. Then a Revolt occurs. Sometimes a Revolt is no joke, as when hens quit laying for no apparent reason. But it doesn't last. Sooner or later, being on the whole eternal, the feminine geis back on the job. R.B. “ MEADACHE, MAVE YOU? WHEN I HAVE HEADACHE 1 GO RIGHT HOME AND KISS MY WIFE AND FEEL HAPPY.’” “SAY—WHAT’S YOUR ADDRESS? ’? hope, which is common. No goods are sent on trial, and if not as represented you must make the best of it, if you are poor; otherwise, the matter may be arranged, for while avow- edly a domestic corporation, and union in its sympathies, marriage is also benev- olent in its scope, giving employment to more poor ers than all other corpo- rations taken together. Notwithstanding repeated failures, its bonds are the best security of the kind on the market, and will not seek invest- ors; at least, until something better of- fers. Walter F. Rice. Under Instruction T is delightful to have our Mr. James Hyde run up against the French law and prejudice against running folks down in the strect. He is one of the most curious products of our civiliza- tion. We owe him a great deal for his efficient labors in bringing on the in- surance investigation. Every time the French courts teach a rich and careless American citizen to respect common hu- man rights they do great good to the person taught, and confer a benefit on this country. ON’T try to drown your troubles in the flowing bowl. Troubles are ex- pert swimmers. WHEN THE HAPPY COUPLE LEFT THE PARENTAL CA\ SOW WHAT WAS IT MY THAT KNOT IN MY TAIL wire yor?'’ tiep AFT walked right in and said some- thing about an Income Tax and Aldrich said “shoo fly"; so he turned around and walked right out again. HE book dealers of Boston have sol- emnly and virtuously agreed among themselves not to sell Walt Whitman's “Leaves of Grass,”’ but" Three Weeks" is still doing business at the same old stands, TO START ON THEIR WED- DING TRIP THE GUESTS PLAYFULLY THREW ROCKS AND OTHER MISSILES APTER THEM AS A TOKEN OF GOOD WISHES. comicbooks.com