Life, 1909-10-28 · page 7 of 36
Life — October 28, 1909 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This article satirizes a debate about married women's identity and legal naming conventions. The piece argues that club women in Chicago and New York should retain their maiden names rather than adopt their husbands' names entirely. The satire critiques the assumption that marriage requires women to surrender individual identity. The author contends that a woman signing professional documents, conducting business, or performing on stage should use her own name—not her husband's—to maintain legal and professional standing as an individual person. The illustration labeled "REINCARNATION" appears to show a dramatic scene, though details are unclear. The piece advocates for women's legal autonomy and individual recognition separate from marital status—a progressive stance for the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
; : usiness on her individual account and not for the Married Women and Their Names » firm, she is not “Mrs. John Jones,” but “ Mary LUB WOMEN in Chicago and New York have \\\ \ Smith Jones." That is the only name she shou been discussing how much use a wife should \\ ever append to any piece of writin When she has make of her husband's name, Shall she be Mrs. wecasion to describe herself or sign herself as “ Mrs. Mary Smith Jones or Mrs. John Jones? Nearl | the 1 John Jones "’ she should do it in the third person. club women y she should be Mary Smith Jones. "Mrs. John Jones wants you please to send home That is all an interesting matter. When Mary ; her groceries” is right, but “ Please send home my Smith and John Jones form their matrimonial part- ‘ 4 groceries. (Signed) Mrs. John Jones,’’ is wrong nership, John Jones becomes the firm name. That “Mrs. John Jones '’ as the author of a book is is matter of convenience. The firm is Mr. and Mrs | absurd. John didn't write the book: Mary wrote it John Jones. The firm name is printed on the visit f If they both wrote it, they should appear on its title ing cards of the firm, if any are used, and is properly vo . page as “John and Mary Jones.” employed in all concerns in which the partners as a A When a woman goes on the stage in her husband's firm engage. So “ Mr. and Mrs. John Jones "’ invite name, as various actresses have done, it is not you to dinner, to the christening of their baby, or J an impropriety but so great an injustice to the hus the marriage of their daughter : band that he ought to have legal means to preve But Mary Smith is still as much Mary Smith as she his name being so used. ever was. Her individuality has not been merged ay Married women should start right in this matter. into that of John Jones, and should not be. In If they once begin to use their husban nes in everything in which she acts as an individual and their personal and individual concerns th come not as a partner she should use her own name. Mi quickly to be known, in so far as they are known When she ms a deed or a check, writes a book, ‘THERE'S 4 GOOD TIME all, by their husbands’ names, and not by their own. goes on the stage, addresses the voters, transacts cominc: Once that happens it is hard to undo it E.S.M. comicbooks.com