Life, 1909-07-08 · page 17 of 28
Life — July 8, 1909 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical pieces mocking 1909 society and gender relations. **"Time to Pray"** satirizes Rudyard Kipling's character "the Fool" through verses about a foolish man in 1909. The satire targets women who exploit wealthy but naive men—the "Lady" and "woman" who understand how to extract money from fools through flattery and manipulation. References to "Vampire Fools with check-books" and women helping fools "find out why" suggest predatory gold-digging behavior. **The cartoon below** shows a chimpanzee asking a woman to remove her hat—likely satirizing women's excessively large, elaborate hats fashionable in 1909 (the "Gibson Girl" era). The humor mocks both the impracticality of these hats and the imperative to wear them despite blocking others' views. **"Modesty"** is a brief anecdote about a child's accidental spelling success, presenting mild humor about luck versus merit. The overall tone critiques both female materialism and male gullibility in Edwardian-era courtship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
6l Now Kipling’s Foo! was stripped to his hide; But in 1909, t's the Lady who's lost a great di (This year holds the record for hip-su It’s amazing she lives when so much of her In 1909! It's really a shame, but this year it’s the As to Fools getting s She knows when he's flush! (And when he is“ shy,"’ She has very good reason for knowing just why!) She always did understand! —Chariotte Baldwin, Modesty ed. six, was a poor speller a good reader. One day he had spelled a hard word cor- rectly at first trial and his teacher praised him for it “Purely accidental,"" he said LITTLE knowledge is a usual “WHAT'S THAT FELLOW DOING AT MY WAGON? "* thing. “THAT'S LAZY LOGAN, WAITING FOR YOU TO START THE WAGON, so WIS MATCH WILL LicHT! others have placed advance orders with their family physi- cians. “The importance of this discovery, said Lyman Ab- bott last night, “cannot be overestimated. I have just cabled Professor Bumkoff to take the second assistant editor- ship of the Outlook.’ . Senator Aldrich, when interviewed, said that he must con: sult with American manufacturers before fixing duties on the germs: Time to Pray (Mr. Kipling please forgive!) OO bad Kipling’s Fool didn’t make his prayer In 1909! What a time he could have choosing hanks of hair! And bones are so chic, and rags are so fair! (And the girl doesn't mind when the Fool doesn't care In 1909.) Oh the Year of the Sheath! (No skirts underneath, And the lingerie, made by hand!) It belongs to the women, quick to know How to Vampire Fools with check-books to show (We know they understand !) The Fool with “goods "' and wishing them spent (In 1909.) Should speak to her of his “ sure intent."" When the lady finds it is cosh that is meant She will help him “ follow his natural bent,"” In 1909! There is no toil lost—there is no spoil lost, And not one good thing is banned! We have reached the year when the woman knows why And she'll help the Fool to find out why— Miss Chimpanzee: excuse ME, MRS. 111 BUT WILL YOU KINDLY (Then he will understand !) REMOVE YOUR HAT? comicbooks.com