Life, 1910-10-06 · page 23 of 60
Life — October 6, 1910 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1910s Life magazine article satirizes marriage by staging a mock "bench show"—borrowing language from dog shows—where husbands are judged like livestock. The cartoon depicts various husband "types" paraded for display. The satire targets both husbands and wives. Husbands are categorized by stereotypical flaws: "meek" husbands, silent ones who've "lost the power of utterance," those compelled to build endless houses for demanding wives, and men who perform affection. The judges—Charles Evans Hughes, Howard Gould (described as "matrimonial expert"), and Lillian Russell—were likely well-known figures of the era, adding satirical weight. The joke exposes marital tension as entertainment. Events like the "Mother-in-law obstacle race" and "Curtain lecture endurance contest" mock common domestic conflicts. By treating husbands as exhibition specimens requiring "training" and "curing," the article satirizes both rigid gender expectations and the practical realities of early 20th-century marriage.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GRAND PARADE OF IUSBANDS Great Husbands’ Bench Show HE success of our Great Bench Show for Husbands is now as- sured. Over one thousand entries have already been received, and they are com- ing in from all over the world. Madi- son Square Garden has been formally engaged. Any husband is eligible. Ap- plication blanks sent on request. Don’t forget that Mr. Nat Goodwin is treasurer, Send your five dollars to him without delay. The judges, as announced last week, are: Charles Evans Hughes (formerly of the Saratoga Racing Association, with headquarters at Albany). Howard Gould (well known as a mat- rimonial expert). Miss Lillian Russell (who is fairly fa- miliar with the subject). The programme will be as varied as the mind of man can make it. This will give a fair idea of some of the wonder- ful features: PROGRAMME. Monday.—Grand parade of husbands, to be followed by Suburban Husbands’ Handicap. Open to all comers. 1, baby carriage wheelers. bundle car- riers. 3, bridge players. 4, train con- versationalists, etc. Judging. Tucsday.—Middle-aged thoroughbreds. Points will be carefully considered in these entries. Each contestant will be required to submjt his record duly at- tested to. Wednesday.—Judging _bridegrooms. Points are (1) appearance, (2) vocabu- lary of loving expressions, (3) self-as. sertiveness, (4) condition of bank ac- count (if any). Friday.—Special exhibition Husbands’ BY MUSBANDS’ CORRESPONDENCE BUREAU Correspondence Bureau. We hesitated to give this exhibition, but urgent re- quests from all over the country have made it necessary. Among other fea- tures it will contain a special band of trained husbands, imported from Brook- lyn, We shall also show a number of husbands in process of being cured, and give various methods of managing a wife. The handsome blonde in charge of our office is going to succeed us with an exhibition of her own, which she refuses to tell about in advance. We have, how- ever, given her carte blanche to go ahead, as she has never failed us. Saturday —Opening with grand parade of husbands around the track, to be fol- lowed by a large and varied programme, among which may be mentioned : Disposition stakes (by points). Biscuit cating contest. Mother-in-law obstacle race. Securing a divorce in twenty minutes (illustrating modern methods). Curtain lecture endurance contest. In the afternoon the cups will be awarded. It is confidently expected that Mayor Gaynor will make the presenta- tion. It must be understood not only that the features so sparsely outlined above are only a few of those to be presented, and give only a faint idea of the great show as a whole, but also that during the progress of the programme the’ bench show will be continuous and husbands from all parts of the country will be on exhibition, representing all localities and every kind and quality of husband known to the human species. Among these will be: Meck husbands (showing specimens in all stages of meekness). House builders (husbands whose wives compel them to keep on building new houses all the time). lent husbands (those who have, to all intents and purposes, lost the power of utterance). Class of solemns (husbands who re- fuse to smile no matter how many jokes are sprung on Rewards of one hundred dollars will be presented to any spectator who can make any of these en- tries smile). Heavy-weights, types). Kissers (husbands who twenty years still kiss their wives as if they really meant it). And many others. In addition to prizes awarded for in- ividual classes, a grand prize ‘will be ewarded to the husband who receives the greatest number of points in all classes, based on appearance, courage, persistence, lying capacity, etc. Imme- diately at the conclusion of the show this husband will have his biography written by George Barr McCutcheon. Orders for book taken now. The following rules will be posted for the general information of spectators and entries: Husbands on exhibition will be re- quired at any time to give their history or any information or advice to tators inquiring about same. No husband will be permitted to leave the Garden until the conclusion of the them, (showing — restaurant after spec- show. Wives in attendance may exercise or- dinary care over their husbands on cx- hibition, but any of the well-known forms of domestic cruelty, such as put- ting plasters on chest, or dosing with