Life, 1910-07-28 · page 19 of 40
Life — July 28, 1910 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical advice about house-party etiquette (left column) and two cartoons. **"Etiquette of the House-Party"** is mock-serious advice telling guests to behave badly: arrive late, steal decorations and souvenirs, upset servants, commandeer the chauffeur, bring incompatible pets to annoy the hostess, make expensive long-distance calls charged to her, and leave wet handkerchiefs as "decorative" stains. The humor relies on inverting actual etiquette rules—presenting terrible behavior as acceptable. **"The Biter Bit"** cartoon (right) depicts a fashionable woman dressed in live snakes being examined by female "Lady Inspectors," apparently suspecting her of smuggling. The caption identifies her as "Miss Ruth St. Smith, the Snake Charmer." The joke satirizes both fashionable women's extreme clothing choices and the era's concern about smuggling. The bottom section contrasts pessimist vs. optimist perspectives on visiting a location (unclear which). The overall tone mocks both social pretension and guest behavior in the early 1900s.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE Etiquette of the House-party By com RULES FOR GUESTS -WAYS be late at dinner. seated you create more of a stir and can show off your gown to better advantage. Do not use the cream puffs for toilet purposes; the sugar upon them is meant to be licked and the puffs themselves will last indefinitely if properly chewed. Each guest is expected to help himself to the floral decorations. Better downstairs carly so as to. secure pick. As for souvenirs—take everything that isn’t tacked down. You may need an extra trunk when it comes time to pack; in which case, have the servants procure you one of the hostess’s. Be nice to the servants. Tell them they do entirely too much work for the money, and make them just as dissatis- fied as you possibly can. You may need them yourself later. It will save your hostess worry if you arrange to have the chauffeur take bis orders from you. He will end by doing be the LADY INSPECTORS FIND THE SUSPECTED SMUGGLER TO BE THE BITER BIT MISS RUTH ST. this, anyway, and it is better to have a complete understanding from the first. Don't neglect to bring your pets along If your hostess is-a cat fancier bring your large mastiff. She will be charmed, as he can play with the angora kittens If she is inclined to have “nerves,” bring your pet parrot; he will chirk her up wonderfully. Use the long-distance ‘phone as much as possible. Toll, of course, should he charged to the hostess. Small articles, such as handkerchiefs. How Life To rESsitisT Keep out Dangerous No smoking No admission. Beware of the dog Keep off the grass Elevator not running Don’t feed the animals Trespassers will be prosccuted, Not responsible for hats and coats SMITH, THE SNAKE CHARMER may be washed out in your room. Dried upon mirrors and windows, they make a fine decorative frieze. If you are a singer, and are requested to sing, give them what they expect— the third degree. “ Bluebelle,"” “ Be- delia,"’ “ Mandy Lane '' and “ The Good Old Summertime "—any of these good; but if your grievance is a per- sonal one try grand opera. Finally, if you are a man, don't kiss the maids—the hostess might get jealous. Robert E. Innis. are Looks To oprimisT Come in. Take onc No, collection. Admission free. You are invited Strangers welcome. Ask for free sample. No trouble to show goods. Let us “feather the nest."* Money back if not satisfied.