Life, 1910-04-07 · page 25 of 76
Life — April 7, 1910 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces about early 1900s gender and commerce: **"A New Field of Endeavor"** (top cartoon and text): The satire mocks women's obsession with hair and the rising cost of human hair switches (hairpieces). The cartoon shows a man presenting a woman's severed head as a product. The text sarcastically suggests Standard Oil Company should buy young girls, treat their hair with coal oil to stimulate growth, and harvest it as a business—profiting from women's vanity and desperation to maintain appearances. It's dark satire criticizing both female materialism and corporate exploitation. **"Ballade of All Fools' Day"** (poem and silhouettes): A traditional April Fools' Day poem celebrating the one day when social rules reverse—when foolishness is wisdom, pranks are permitted, and normal hierarchies dissolve ("Prince and pauper"). The silhouettes below show various hat styles. The tone is lighthearted, contrasting sharply with the grimmer satire above.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ures inquiry among those who are informed about such matters we learn that a good switch (not railroad) cannot be obtained for less than twenty- five dollars. One lady paid eighty dollars “LIFE: A New Field of Endeavor weeet?? stances may be; for women will starve sooner than make any sacrifice of their appearance. The duty on hair is consid- erable. We suggest, therefore, to the Standard tained in the open market—and put them out to pasture. By treating their heads once or twice a day to a coal oil mix- ture their hair will grow very fast. At least a crop every two years ought to be insured Fresh air is good for the hair. young ladies should therefore be kept out doors. They can be driven to se- lected felds in the morning and brought back a night Here is a proper industry. It fur- nishes a useful occupation for young gir keeps them out of mischi and an assured supply of a national staple. for something that wasn't as good as it might be. She afterward exchanged it for another switch at a hundred. The price of ladies’ hair, from all ac- and sweethearts need the hair. counts, is steadily rising. The difficulty It is well known that coal oil is a of matching, not only in color but in stimulant to the growth of hair. It is fibre, is very great. As hair comes into basis for many of the hair raising greater demand it is natural for these panaceas. The Standard Oil Company ladies who have it to wish to retain it, should immediately purchase a qurotitv no matter how straitened their circum- of young girls—they can easily be ov- Ballade of All Fools’ Day The whole world now may be turned askew, This is the day when folly is wise Oil Company that it go immediately into the hair raising business. The Stand- ard Oil needs the money and our wives The HERE is the joke you have saved since May? Where is the prank that your boyhood knew? Now is your golden chance to pay Old scores off that have troubled you. Have no fear of the thorn and rue, This is the day when the old grudge dies, Elect yourself to the merry crew, This is the day when folly is wise! When the sweetest tune an ass may bray “Vill thrill some prima donn. When colors that once were uve through gray Are changed to those of a brighter hue— These are the Don cap and bells as the first cock cries, Grow young in heart and t life anew— This is the day wh ! nts, you may take your cu For once in the year you may have your way, If sane, for once you may waive the clue, Your freedom lasts for a golden day, And all may quaff of its elfin brew; There are things “not done’? you now may do, Make haste, the day too quickly flies, n folly is wise ENVoI Prince and pauper and All who are sad have and shrew, ne with sighs, Go crowned with a paper-cap of bluc— This is the day when folly is wise! ASE “ALL, ALL ARE GONE, THE OLD FAMILIAR FACES,” comicbooks.com