Life, 1910-09-15 · page 14 of 40
Life — September 15, 1910 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a serialized satirical narrative mocking a self-pitying husband. Over several August diary entries, a neglected husband complains that his wife Eleanor is constantly absent—attending clubs, meetings, and mysterious engagements without explanation. When he timidly asks where she goes, she dismisses his concerns as unmanly worry. The satire escalates: the husband, feeling lonely and vulnerable, allows another woman into his life. By August 20, he has decided to run away with her, justifying his infidelity by blaming Eleanor's neglect. The final entry shows him departing as Eleanor leaves for a business trip, with the moral: wives who leave husbands alone should "expect disaster." The joke targets the husband's weakness and self-deception—he blames Eleanor while absolving himself of responsibility. The illustration ("As Registered: Mary Jones and Husband") sardonically captures the domestic tension. The page satirizes both neglectful spouses and men's tendency to rationalize their own failings.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
430 LIP E* The Journal of a Neglected Husband UGUST 3, 8 p. m- Eleanor has not co’ detained her? usiness 1 "7 have swers, take an interest in his wife's affairs. For the third successive evening xe home for dinner! W To all my inquiries she Surely it is proper that hat can merely an- a husband I do n expect to be informed of all the details—that, of course, is impossible—but is it ashi to want to know th Tam so anxious! Where wil 5.—Another evening ined at home, but she main currents of one! Eleanor re was too much her life? this | ast night so worn out that she dozed in her ebair until bedtime, and once in bed, fell asleep immediately. absent with her clubs and meetings, and nightfall she returned only long enough change her clothes and s\ food, and then off again. tured timidly re going, she laughed and twitched my ear and said: “ Hubbies mustn't worry their little heads over things they can’t under- stand. We life which men must be satisfied to en- trust to us without she kissed me and patted my cheek and went out laughing. What am I to think? Is there, perhaps, another? No, no, | will formulate such a susp cion! | cannot believe that my darlin, so tender atch a morsel When I ven where she was women have serious work in question.” Then not even once and devoted, can have Vows as less If contact with such then shel- come to regard her marriag sacred than I do mine. the produces thank Heaven that ered sex August Ss was ine evita Another woman has come in’ my life. 1 struggled, against it, vain, T alone, with help id —it was stronger than I should foreseen the should watched and results, I belong to the world zo.—It has come, have fous but in no one to Eleanor danger, sheltered me _ od Tt yy, y %, % have have over with rv é 8 9g 4 < hy foot Re i 8 e <6 D & You 5 0 THE USUAL END OF AN ARGUMENT most All day to-day she has been at to of AS REGISTERED MARY Je so that temptation could not come near me, Men are so weak! But she did naught of this; she left me alone with my aginings and lons- ings, and then the other—I will not write her namé—eame into my life, and saw ch T did my secret, and—and— details? Tt careless w woman and a weak man, Wednesday. leaves for a business k! Bobby is awake! O my child! what will bee: ather to keep ye her love, fears and i: hest But old and understood, althou to hide m: why write the story of nged to flee on anor trip . ny child, me of you with out a pure and sweet? FS AND HUSHAND How w turn out? all! Wednesday.—The come! Everything is Whither we are going have left everything to her. Heaven help us fateful day has for flight I know not. 1 She is so m so weak ready strong and capable and I and timid. As the hour dr: hecome and more Shall I have strength-to carry it through ? Zven now if Eleanor—but, no, she has neglected me too shamefully; I will not weaken. A leaves her hus- band alone day after day and night after night must expect disaster. Men’ hearts ery for love. “ Good-by,”” ws near J more frightened wife who out comicbooks.com