Life, 1909-12-02 · page 50 of 80
Life — December 2, 1909 — page 50: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page continues a serialized science fiction story about body-swapping. The plot involves three men—Bunce, Polter, and Tibbs—competing for Mrs. Tibbs's affection. Through an earlier magical or technological exchange, they've swapped bodies. The narrative culminates with the men offering Mrs. Tibbs her choice of which man she prefers, in whichever body. The satire targets **marriage and female agency**: the story presents the absurd premise that a wife might choose her husband based on physical appearance or personality independent of the body/person, suggesting contemporary anxieties about women's liberation and marital choice. By literally separating bodies from personalities, the story jokes about whether women value their husbands as complete persons or merely as attractive/appealing packages. The page also features two **period advertisements** for Mulhens & Kropff perfume and soap, typical of Life's commercial content. The story's conclusion (cut off) presumably reveals Mrs. Tibbs's actual preference.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: eR Love's Victory (Continued from page 808) “Well, I'll prevent you from winning her, anyway. I'll hang around with my voice and appeal to her sense of du She never will take you as long as she bears me.’ Polter broke in. “Why not toss up for her? '’ he said. “All I ask,"* said Tibbs, “is half an “s start, and with your framework," J, looking at me significantly. Then I saw how it was. He believed he could win if he could just put bis voice in Polter’s original package which I had possession of. My mind flew back to the widow Wiat did a certain look mean that she had given me? A thought came to me. Well, it was worth the chance. “Tl take you,’ [ said caln “You'll exch. ’ “Not with you as you are at present. T leve Mrs. bbs with an undying love, but I wouldn't be in your shoes for any- thing.” I bowed to Polter. “If, however, in case I lose, my friend here will permit me to resume as we were before, I'll agree.”” “Good!"’ exclaimed Tibbs. “Will you do it?" to Polter. “Sure! '’ said Polter. “I am not ex- pleased with the present arrange- ment, anyway," he added The cards were brought and we agreed Nt G Te) PERFECTION PURITY«*° PERFUME 1 FERD. MULHENS c ovocne Ye. Germany. us emancn, MULHENS & KROPFF 295 Beoromey. NewYoes NY eno 154 w sranes 10m TAL BLE SOE CARE to throw a poker hand. I turned out three queens and Tibbs three kings “Hal he exclaimed gleefully.“ Now we'll see. Give me your body and half an hour's start, and I'm off.” Polter gor nervous. “Look here!’ he exclaimed, “1 sup pose I've got to sit here in that frame you at present occupy and wait until you come back. But I'll be hanged if 1 think I want to take the chances. If you win her you won't want to change. Besides, I don’t see what I am getting out of this thing, anyway. It all comes from my love of change. I wanted a little varity, but I am a good deal more uncomfortable than 1 was. Aren't you?"? he asked me. I looked at the green tie and con fessed that I was. ddenly a bright thought struck me. “We want to be fair about this mat- ter,’ I said, “and we want to please Mrs. Tibbs. Let us, therefor and see her, and allow her to You have I asked Polter. he is charm- Certainly not. You mean——" © the right combination for herself.”” It was agreed upon then and there. In half an hour more we all filed solemnly into the ‘Tibbs reception room. In a moment Mrs, Tibbs entered. I explained briefly Bunce," I began, “and this gentleman,” turning to Polter, “is at present occupying my corporeal frame. Mr. Tibbs is as you have seen him be- fore. Now, my dear, we want to please you, and we are willing to do just as you say. You can have Tibbs in any of the corporeal frameworks that you sce be- fore you, or you can have me or Polter: We want you to make your own selection and we will abide by the decision.” Mrs, Tibbs looked from one to the other of us in alarm “don't understand,” she faltered I rose “Twill try and explain it more clearly I replied. “You see, I am Bunce, tal ing, although [I am temporarily in pos- session of Polter’s framework. He has as you sce. Now, suppose you should want Tibbs back again, Which of us would you like him in? You have only to speak and the change will be made, and those of us who are left over will immediately depart. Or, suppose you should prefer me? You can have me in any one of three ways.” Mrs, Tibbs got up. She took me firm ly by one shoulder and Tibbs by the other and pushed us out into the hall Then she went after Polter. She opened the front door and thrust us all out into the cold night “ Away with you all!’* she exclaimed “TM marry my chauffeur first. Get our! "* But, — deares I expostulated Wel (Concluded on page 824) comicbooks.com