Life, 1909-11-25 · page 11 of 32
Life — November 25, 1909 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two illustrated vignettes satirizing domestic life and gender relations: **Top left cartoon** ("Have you any choice of vocal soloists?") depicts a woman auditioning singers, mocking the era's expectation that affluent women would patronize the arts while remaining largely ornamental. **Bottom illustration** ("The Captured Burglar") shows a burglar confronted by a homeowner, with dialogue suggesting the burglar pleads: "Say, boss, would ye mind telephonin' my wife not to keep breakfast fer me?" This satirizes working-class domestic anxiety—even criminals prioritize notifying wives about meals—poking fun at both marital obligation and the burglar's mundane domestic concerns despite his criminal predicament. The surrounding text discusses a women's suffrage delegation visit, indicating this issue engaged contemporary debates about women's rights and roles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Miss Mutt SELECTIONS? Mr. Boston: wuy cy HAVE YOU ANY CHOICE OF vocst. NoT TRY THE “ HOWLY even go further than this and state that if the proper arrangements could be made we wouldn't mind changing off our present partner for almost any of these delegates. We realize of cours that the lady’s views might not coincide with ours, but then things couldn't be much worse with us than they are at present, and it is something to have a good-looking woman around the house occasionally, even the time making stump speeches. We might also state for the benefit of the hypercritical that it was hardly fair to one f she is off most of The Captured Burglar: say, Boss, WOULD YE KEEP BREAKPAST FER ME? *LIFE* judge us in our old clothes, during offic hours, when we were taken completely In our frock coat and silk h walking abroad, with a red rose in our buttonhole, we present by no means the insignificant appearance that a hasty and immature mind might imagine. o 8 6 by surprise. HE object of the visit of this delegation was, of course, perfectly evident from the leader—we start. have scen a more striking-looking woman; our heart went out to her at once—stated in a few well-chosen words that she thought we ought to de- clare ourselves at once with regard to the woman suffragist movement—that we ought to come out with a definite plat form, so at where we stand We promised her that we would do so. and, as soon as we could get round to it, issue a statement that would put all minds at rest. We have realized for some time, of course, that we should have to do this. As a we avoid all issues, but in this case, while we have shrunk from taking a definite stand, we sec no other way out of it. We are now preparing a statement of our position on the every one would know rule affragist question to MIND TELEPHONIN’ MY WIFE NOT TO VOR THE MAXIM SILENCEX” be issued to our customers at a nominal price and to be large. given to the world at N the meantime, while this un- doubtedly comes at the busiest pe- riod of th we wish to say year, that it will cause no delay in our programme for the coming winter. We shall give our entertainment committee the benefit of our experienc and advice, and we believe we are safe in saying thatthe plans we are outlining will exceed anything ever offered to tired hus- bands. Among rr things we may established a local branch in the heart of the Tenderloin district, we have secured special track privileges, and the Chorus Girls Union has given our certified members the freedom of every the city. We have mention that we have race. stage entrance in also added a picture gallery to our headquarters and several new poker rooms. We also have attached to our building, and a husbands’ code, for new a new wireless instrument the use of our regular customers. however, that all these improvements in our methods of entertainment are We must rep only for the benefit of those of our customers who really need relaxation, are actually a splendid method for bringing husbands and wives together. We are broad and liberal in our views, and it is our experience that when a man sees a little of this world it only makes him long for home all the He couldn't have written so feelingly as he did about more, Solomon was this way home ties unless he had been through the Tenderloin. So that we feel more than we can express in words that our enter- tainment committee has a deeply morat work before it in providing relaxation. In the meantime don’t delay how far gone you can help you. A large “ook of testi- monials sent free. Confidential. Our terms are within the reach of the most humble, Huspanps’ No matter may think you are we Corresronpence Burrau comicbooks.com