Life, 1910-09-22 · page 15 of 40
Life — September 22, 1910 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine features satirical content mocking early-20th-century anxieties about marriage and economic inequality. **The Fortune Teller Section**: The right side presents humorous "fortunes" for people born in September, using exaggerated stereotypes about spouses. Each prediction ridicules contemporary marriage expectations—wives are portrayed as neglectful, frivolous, or intellectually tedious, while husbands are depicted as philistine drinkers, snorers, or financially incompetent. The humor relies on the audience recognizing these as common marital complaints. **Left Side Commentary**: The articles criticize wealth inequality and landlord exploitation. "Is Living Worth Its Cost?" satirizes a landlord who justifies raising rents, coal prices, and freight rates while blaming workers' "high living" and wage demands—the irony being that wages haven't risen proportionally. The piece mocks the circular logic of capitalism: the wealthy blame the poor for inflation while profiting from it themselves. Both sections use satire to critique social problems: unrealistic marriage ideals and economic injustice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Butter (appearing in doorway to dining-room) : Madam, lunch is served. Mrs. van L-S.: Very well, W loughby. (They all move toward the dining- room.) AuFrep van I.-S By George, it’s great luck we all happened to meet this isn’t it? If we hadn't, who knows— Mrs. van L-S.: 1 think it is most important that the members of a fam- ily should meet together from time to time for an exchange of confidences. Nothing so tends to keep alive family affection. William Wallace Whitelock. Dr. Hadley Accepts FTER all, President Taft did get Dr. Hadley to be chairman of the tock and Bond Commission, and a mighty good choice for a difficult work. It has been a quict summer for Mr. Taft, and no doubt he has accomplished much besides having a restful vacation. To keep the Colonel on the road and the President on the job scems almost an ideal division of labor. The Presidency under such conditions must be almost as peaceful as the Supreme Court. Is Living Worth Its Cost? H* Land-Lordship raised the rent “The advance in the cost of liv- ing,’ he explained, “is due to the in- creased production of gold."’ Next he doubled the price of coal. “ High living, among the people,”” he ob- served, “is the reason of the greater cost of necessaries. Then he advanced the rate of interest. The immense demands for capital which I make through my activities,” he “account for the rise in domestic expenses,” Afterwards he put up freight rates. “ High wages, the increase in the cost of coal, and the scarcity of money," he murmured, “ necessitate higher charges.”” “But,” said the Consumer, “you get the rent, the increase in the price of coal and the higher interest’ for» Where shall we get the higher wages “Oh, we all advance together,” said his Lordship. “The prices of living have gone up in the levator," said the Consumer; “wages must climb the stairs.” Bolton Hall. said, “ “LI F-E* LIFE’S INFALLIBLE FORTUNE TELLER If you were born on September 9 ? © $ “GB Your foture wile will bestow her af fections in the fol lowing order: 1, parrot; 2, husband, "GA Your future wife will have ambitions a sculptress and your home decora tions will remind you of a well-filled cemetery. “GA Your future wife will wear a 4}3.\ shoe and be fond of eating cake in bed In other respects she will be an esti- mable person. 68 Your future wife will be averse t domestic duties a great friend of the missionaries, which will keep your purs and wardrobe in state of depletion “Gm Your future wife will have a real sense of humor, and shortly after marri- age all the stories you love to tell will 0 to the scrap- heap. She will be popular with your friends. wa Your future wife will be rich but penurious, She will keep house on your salary and make you a weekly allow- ance for car-fare “GA Your future wile will be highly in- tellectual, but will invariably spell cow with ak." 22 ‘Your future husband 40 will be a connois- seur of lager beer As you detest it you will never be at a toss for 80 thing to talk to hi about. ‘Your future husband #0 will snore, You will always sleep with bale of cotton-bat ting within easy reach, ‘Your future husband # 4 will be a bank cash- ier and a Sunday school superintend. ent, but will escay being sent to prison, ‘Your future husband #0 will be an ardent aviator, and your married life will be subject’ to many ups and downs ‘Your future husband & » will insist on wear- ing neckties which do not harmonize with your complex: ion. Divorce will be your only refuge. ‘Your future husband # « will be afraid to come home in th dark. You will be- come an expert roli- taire player, Your future husband 4. will love you ten- derly. He will count the family wash and do a number of other things to save you from care and responsibility.