Life, 1910-01-20 · page 21 of 36
Life — January 20, 1910 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces from *Life* magazine (likely early 1900s): **"The Revival of the Art of Dancing"** (top illustration): A sketch mocking the era's dance craze, showing a mother and young women dancing energetically with a scandalized man watching. The caption suggests disapproval of modern women's uninhibited public behavior. **Divorce Court Dialogue** (left column): Sharp satire on a divorce proceeding where a witness gives vague, contradictory testimony about whether a husband drank alcohol—answering both "yes" and claiming only "twice" or "several" times. The joke: the testimony is worthless, yet the court apparently rules anyway, awarding the wife a financial settlement. This mocks the era's loose divorce laws and frivolous proceedings. **"By Degrees"** (right): A brief joke about explorer Peary's magazine articles being overshadowed by advertisements—satirizing commercial exploitation even of Arctic exploration. The overall tone criticizes modern moral decay, loose legal standards, and commercialism in contemporary American society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Um. Ever saw them them actually drinking liquor or alcohol?” “Yes, sir”? “ How many times? "” “Ob, several.”” “Twice?” “T should say $0.” “Knew they were drinking alcohol?’ “Yes, sir.” “Are you a chemist?" “No, sir.” “College graduate?" “No, sir.” “Know what makes alcohol? "? “No, sir.” “Hum, What makes you think that Mr. Doe wasn’t a model husband, living only for his wife, constantly solicitous of her welfare? "” “*Cause I saw ‘em together. Per- fect hell, I say, perfect hell. He was born rich and never did anything else ene’ ee BAZ “3 fj vieeamintan—7 THE REVIVAL OF THE ART OF DANCING MOTHER AND THE GIRLS to raise it. She married him for his money, took to drink and raised the same thing.”’ “That will Result of proceedings: Servants’ tes- timony excluded. Both parties to di- vorce exonerated, husband settles four ns on wife and marries an- do.”* Papers wait impatiently for next case. By Degrees sas AVE you read Peary’s first article in Umpton’s Magazine?’’ asks the man with the frazzled whiskers. “Haven't got to that, yet,” answers the man with the extemporancous eye- brows. “I've not finished poring through the advertisements of things to . : fs ne “IT DOESN’T SEEM TO MAKE ANY DIF= which he has given testimonials FERENCE WHETHER IT IS THE NORTH OR EEPING women and poor soldiers THE SOUTH POLE, IT’S ALWAYS ON THE do not keep their powder dry. comicbooks.com