Life, 1910-06-09 · page 17 of 40
Life — June 9, 1910 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early-20th-century courtship and marriage attitudes through two pieces: **Top Panel (Three-panel comic):** Shows the evolution from horse-drawn carriage (Past), to automobile (Present), to airplane (Future)—depicting modernization's rapid pace. The "courtship" title suggests romantic progression changes with technology. **Bottom Section:** A humorous dialogue where a marriage broker offers various "soul-mate" options like consumer goods, with guarantees and "combination offers." The joke mocks the commercialization of romance and the absurdity of shopping for love. **Right side:** A brief jab at Secretary Ballinger (appears to be Richard Ballinger, Theodore Roosevelt's controversial Interior Secretary), suggesting his subordinates lack loyalty—a political dig at government competence. **Bottom illustration:** A rooster with a cat, with text about asking permission to court someone's daughters, using exaggerated formal language that mocks Victorian courtship conventions. Overall, the page satirizes both modernization's effect on romance and the era's rigid social formalities around courtship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Past * Possibly 4 soul-mate might interest remarkable offerin: affinities, all shapes narket : also you. Have some t line of blond sizes, ever put on the of love some brunettes, with depth guaranteed for one year; or T can give you a combination offer—a rex steadyxoiny matrimonial side partner ind a soulmate thrown in at a. slight extra cost I think The ma tiently, He was be “Maybe you can Ker paused somewhat impa to wonder something.” said one who combines all of the Can't you let that you have mention “You want all of woman?" “That's it.” “T think T could m: it, on one them in tondition."* “What's that?" Courtship “That you love with her ‘The bac Whaj “Only this," rep Mii “that then it wouldn't much ¢ ference. If you really ed her you would think she had all of those quali- ECKETARY BALLINGER has taken S St. Patrick for his model and pro lid not make his own hat particular was dif eretary Ballinger. Mr. Ballinger does not seem to inspire confidence or fidelity in his subordinates, which is awkward for him Nor all who auto, ought to.” Mr. Cochin: 1 WANT TO ASK YOUR PER MISSION TO PAY MY ADDRESS TO youR pavent 1 LOVE THEM DEVOTEDLY AND WILL pO MY nes MAKE THEM HAPPY, comicbooks.com