Life, 1911-02-02 · page 19 of 52
Life — February 2, 1911 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page contains three satirical pieces typical of early Life magazine: **"Historic Affinities"** compares Dr. Parkhurst (a real New York reformer/clergyman) with Catherine II of Russia through caricature, likely mocking his authoritarian reformist tendencies by equating them to autocratic rule. **"Riddle"** is a wordplay poem, unrelated to satire. **"A Weakling"** mocks women's suffrage advocates by presenting a woman who supports voting rights but then undermines herself by saying wives should vote as husbands advise—satirizing the perceived weakness or inconsistency of pro-suffrage arguments. **"Taking a Chance"** jokes about a young man engaged to a woman whose appearance he's never seen without her hat—satirizing either women's elaborate fashion/hats of the era or the foolishness of marrying without truly knowing one's fiancée. **"The Road to Yesterday"** (image caption) is unclear without seeing the full illustration, but appears nostalgic in tone. The overall page reflects early 20th-century anxieties about women's rights, fashion, and marriage customs.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
° HISTORIC AFFINITIES DR. PARKHURST AND CATHARINE If OF RUSSIA. Riddle My First, dear one, is the last, but one In this beautiful world of ours. My Next, dear one, is the First, but one In this selfsame world of ours. Ay Last, dear one, and my last but one Are not in this world at all, But are first in the verses I pen to the Circes Who hold me in their thrall. ‘ind my Whole, dear one, is the godl, dear one, That makes it a world at all. A Weakling “YES,” said the woman, “I believe we should have the vote.” Wild huzzas rent the air. “And,” she continued, “I also believe a wife should vote way her husband advises her is best.” Here shricks of “ Hussy! her further speech. "and groans of derision drownel Taking a Chance ATHER,” says the rapt youth, “I am engaged to marry Miss Fasshun! “Is she pretty?” asks the father. “T do not know. I never saw her with her hat off.” THE ROAD TO YESTERDAY, comicbooks.com