Life, 1909-07-08 · page 13 of 28
Life — July 8, 1909 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon contrasts courtship and marriage through contrasting male behavior. When single, a man kneels before a woman, imploring her to marry him. Once married, he sits while his wife stands, buttoning his jacket—a visual commentary on reversed power dynamics and lost romance after marriage. The "Some Can'ts" section discusses state liquor laws, noting Wisconsin's ban on public swearing and Washington's absence from the "lion" list (State of the Lion speeches). The humor targets legislators attempting moral legislation. Lower jokes address gender stereotypes: women's ice-cutting ability, library book requests, and curiosity. The angler photograph illustrates comic misfortune—losing fishing tackle. These represent early-20th-century domestic and recreational humor targeting conventional social roles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHEN SINGLE On bended knees he did implore To be her slave for life. Some Can'ts HE Wisconsin legislature legislated in May that it should be meanor to swear in public in Wisconsin, even when the street car does not stop jor you. We presume the Governor signed the bill and that the law stands accordingly. We understs the State of W (doubtless during the absence fr the State of the Hon. Samuel Hill) that it is some kind of a crime to smoke cigar- ettes, so that you can't smoke them at the Scatile Fair. And the legislature of the State of a misde- gislature of hington has legislated IS WACKER = WHEN MARRIED Qn bended knees he fiercely swore And buttoned up his wife s has legislated a new liquor law makes it unlawful to quantity of spirits in that State, for an purpose A man may die there for lack of a drink of brandy unless the broken. There are altogether 100 n y or sell a law is ny persons in too many American State legislatures who want to make flap-jacks steam-roller. They won't they will spoil quite a bit of batter trying with a succeed, but “TAS old Gotrox ever separated him- from anything worth hav- “Yes, from his appetite.” WOMAN cannot cut much ice with a hatchet face. THE INCURABLE ANGLER “Just My tuck! Tue wreck! "" PISH BITING AND ALL MY TACKLE LOST IN WAT NS MY—DUT THIS IS THE FUNNIEST JoKE- BOOK 1 EVER SAW. MALL GIRL Is this a library? Lipraiax : Yes Smatt Gret: I want something wicked, and excitin’ and bad. Lioeartan: [couldn't let you have any book like that, little girl Smaut. Gree: Tt I've read ‘em. It’s for my younger sister. (of twelve) ain't for me Inte curiosity is a mighty busy thing. comicbooks.com