Life, 1911-01-12 · page 24 of 44
Life — January 12, 1911 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page attacks women's suffrage through mock-heroic poetry and acerbic humor. The central cartoon depicts a woman suffragette as a domineering figure literally overpowering a man—visual shorthand for the satirist's fear that voting rights would emasculate husbands. The poems mock suffragettes as shrewish wives who strip men of "foolish pride," force them into domestic servitude (sweeping, dishwashing), and eliminate male autonomy. "A Fool There Was" directly parodies Kipling, suggesting men are duped into marrying political activists. The competing pro/anti-suffrage arguments (XXXV-XXXVIII) present the satirist's view that suffragettes neglect maternal duties. Most telling: the baby's monologue complains that both parents abandon him for political commitment—the implication being that suffragettes are selfish, unnatural mothers. This reflects pre-1920 anti-suffrage rhetoric equating women's political participation with family destruction and gender chaos. The satire assumes readers share contempt for assertive women.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
128 XXXIV A Fool There Was (Apologies to Kipling) A_ fool lady fair, (Even as you and I!) bee Ob! the years we waste when we marry in haste, And a suffragette takes us in tow. Too late then to balk, we must finish life’s walk In company wit “back talk This we are one who'll have no Mr A fool there was and he met his fate, (Even as you and I!) Clubs and suppers and staying out late— (These weren't the least that the lady “ made straight,”) For the fool now must follow his suffra- gette mate, (Even as you and I!) IV Ob! the toil it cost, and the pleasure he lost, And the secret carousals he planned: But the woman was sly, his plans went awry, And now he knows it's no use to try— She has him completely in hand! v The fool was stripped of his “ foolish pride,” (Even as you and I!) He was taught to sweep and how dishes are dried, (And it went on record the fellow tried !) S. some of him lived but the most of Lim ied, (Even as you and I!) VI And so it’s the shame of his suffragette dame That stings like a white-hot brand. It’s coming to know that her word must “go” Seeing at last that his had no show— That he must understand! W. Grady Miller, ‘Lik E* Life’s Suffragette Contest I there was and he made his prayer, (Even as you and I!) To a hag who was prone her rights to declare, (We called her the “ Wom- an Suffragette Scare,”) But the fool he called her his Notice to Contestants This contest closed on December 31, no manuscripts received after that date being considered. On account of the number of manuscripts still to be read by the judges, we are unable, at this writ- ing, to give the date of the prise award, But it will be as soon as possible. XXXV Why a Man Should Not Marry a Suffragette Wise Solomon, we must agree, Experience had astounding. Do not we read in Scriptures he, Not circumscribed but rather free Of morals, took the liberty To marry wives abounding? As spouse licentiate, then, we Seek him, the quest propounding, Unlearned ourselves, by state's decree, For such a problem prompt to be, For problem of such gravity, Reason itself confounding. A husband in the gates men see, Good wife herself surrounding Each hour with work as hers in fee To endless time. The Q. E. "Tis here in all solemnity, Each verse a letter sounding, Beatrice Stone. - 4 XXXVI The Reason (Baby, reading Lire, claims): I'm the reason! Of course! And Lire didn’t know it! (chortles). (Commiseratingly): He knows it—now I've come! Put sue (impatient gesture) she’s a suffragette! (looks apprehensively teward door). This morning when they thought I was asleep, I heard her telling suddenly ex- him she had to attend a council meeting. She said it was her duty. He said I was her duty. She said I was as much his duty as hers. He said damn, very quietly—and went! So did she! And I was left alone again, although they know I am teething (grimace) and it hurts me! (sob). Some- times I feel so miserable, and old, and lonely, I al- most wish I'd never come. But I couldn't help that. I Teally couldn't. Surely one of them might stay with me. I’m quite helpless. Can’t even fill my own bottle. And the other could go out and get food for me, and her, and him. If both of them stay we chall all starve. If both of them go, I starve. And I object to that. I'm too young, and too fond of Lire (involuntarily grasps Lire). He says he is willing to get the food, and I know he’s strong cnough. (Excitedly): Then why should she be always wanting to do it, and her such a littlé thing, not much bigger than me? She. ought to stay home with me, of course. I don’t know, though, I’m very fond of him, too. But she’s different, makes me comfortable, and good-tempered, and—and—I think she was specially made to look after me. That's it. Some people think because I’m a baby I can only cry and sleep. But I'll show them! I—Hurrah! I will de- mand ‘Votes for Babies! (Falls asleep, smiling contentedly.) F. S. Wood. XXXVII Why Any Man Should Not Marry a Suffragette S for the Silence he'll never enjoy U for a Union, sans peace and sans joy. F for the Fool who is sentenced for life, F for the Father, deprived of a wife. R for the Rector who sanctioned his doom, A for the Agony, sadness and gloom, G for the Girl, void of feminine grace, E for the End of the masculine race, T for Bill Taft, who'll be out of the bat- tle, T for the Triumph of tea, toast and tat- tle, E for Eternity—final relief! Arthur Warren Ingalls. XXXVIIT Eleven Reasons The fact that a woman is a suffragette (one who actively and militantly supports woman suffrage) disqualifies her for the (Continued on page 139) comicbooks.com