Life, 1909-11-25 · page 10 of 32
Life — November 25, 1909 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical advice column mockup titled "Husbands' Correspondence Bureau." The header illustration shows various caricatured figures representing different husband "types." The main cartoon depicts Mrs. Henpeck confronting three men, with the caption "WHO WERE THE THREE WISE MEN, JOB? 'BACHELORS!'" The satire targets henpecked husbands—men dominated by their wives. The joke references the biblical Job (a man of suffering) and the Three Wise Men, suggesting that the only truly "wise" men are bachelors who avoid marriage altogether. The column warns husbands against involving themselves in their wives' affairs, emphasizing that domestic life creates anxiety and nervousness—particularly when wives are involved in public movements or delegations. The satire mocks both nagging wives and the anxieties of married men in early 20th-century domestic life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Husbands’ Correspondence Bureau (No connection with any other establishment. egainst agents representing themselves proper credentials.) ATURDAY last as we were sitting in our private of- fice going over the proof sheets of the latest edi- tion of our “Galaxy of Beauties "’ (send for table of contents) we were in- formed that a delegation of ladies rep- resenting the suffragist: m ment was outside and wished to sce us on important business. We have never been known to waver when danger con- fronts us. Indeed, we have often been accused of rashness where our own per- was involved. In this in- woman ve- sonal safety All persons ore hereby warned as coming from this bureau without stance we did not hesitate a moment, but, adjusting our cravat a ing what hair we have left after a long life of matrimonial lights and shades, we or- dered that the delegation be shown in, We may say that it came to our ears afterwards—through one of the hand- some blondes in our office—that our ner on this occasion was th of the ladies of the dele timid and nervous. In fact, we heard that one of them said that she didn’t understand how such an_ insignificant creature and one who blushed and mered so could possibly be at the h Mrs. Henpeck: “ BACHELORS WHO WERE THE THREE WISE MEN, JOB? THE DANGER IN SOUTH POLAR EXPLORATION 18 TUMBLING OFF. of a world movement which probably, in a few years more, will revolutionize so- ciety That's where this lady, and with her limited experience of lif fooled. Physically speaking, we probably not so large or masterful as we might be, and, while from mentioning our personal affairs, our own all others are we. shrink nonial life has not tended and it possible that our outward manner con veys the impression of a But any one who knows an knows that the body is nothing— private matri to improve our nerves is quite mind that counts. We could n limited space prevents us from est heroes. we recall the maticr now, we did feel a little nervous on this particular occasion ; apoleon was a small man on others, list of the world’s gre: not for ourselves—we have no personal fear—but because the responsibility of our position; the immense interests in- volved naturally makes us thoughtful of he consequences to our clients should anything happen to us just at this time. Later on, when our own original methods of adjusting matrimonial difficulties have been instilled into a corps of able as sistants and our work is assured of be- ig handed down, it will not, of course, make so much difference. But just now we cannot afford to take any chances. We must say, however, for this dele- gation that we were most agreeably: sur prised. Many of them were tall, hand- some, stately, veritable queens amo} women, and it gave us a pleasant little shock to think that all these years we had been picturing the most advanced firagists as being homely, and then to see them near enough and discover that they are altogether charming. We will comicbooks.com