Life, 1911-03-23 · page 19 of 44
Life — March 23, 1911 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1909 *Life* page satirizes American moral panic through mock-serious commentary on women's bathing suits, presented as a national crisis. The "Red Danger Flag" cartoon depicts a figure waving a red flag at a charging bull—symbolizing how moral reformers (including prominent figures like Carrie Nation) are inflaming public hysteria over modest bathing-suit fashion as if it threatens civilization itself. The satire mocks the absurdity: respectable women's organizations treat swimwear as a matter of national importance worthy of "straw votes," while *Life* announces its own mock "Reform League" to combat this "immoral movement." The irony peaks when *Life* claims credit for spring fashions while declaring America finally independent from Paris fashion control—trivializing both the fashion industry and reform movements simultaneously. The "Whence the Socialists?" section shifts targets, mocking fears that socialism is somehow mysteriously spreading domestically rather than imported from abroad.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE RED DANGER FLAG Mrs. Belmont, when interviewed yesterday, said: “I regard this as the most important question that has come up recently before the American people, and I trust that every woman's club in the country will give it the attention that it deserves. It lies at the basis of our national life.” Mrs. Carrie Nation said: “Let me catch any woman wearing a bathing suit in my presence, or even hinting at such a base thing! It is bigh time that such an immoral movement as this should be nipped in the bud.” Mr. Bok of the Ladies’ Home Journal said: “Tam just preparing a series of letters from a bathing suit sister to an erring brother. Until these appear I don’t care to commit myself.” The question is really a symbolic one and must he con- silered in its ultimate aspects, The League has been busy sending representatives through- out the country taking straw votes. Dr. Parkburst said late last night: “T have no sympathy with the new movement. I go to Asbury Park in summer.” In the meantime, we desire to call attention to the fact that the great werk inaugurated by Lire’s Reform Loague is now proceeding and our spring fashions attest the value of our patriotic motives. Some of our spring styles will be regarded by many as a radical departure from accustomed modes, but they are the result of advanced thought. We have now attached to the League some of the greatest artists in the country, and we shall stop at nothing to pro- duce the proper effects. One thing has already been demon- strated: Paris no longer controls us and we are fully able to originate our own modes. Suggestions will be gladly welcomed from any patriotic corner. Besides, mre a tS 579 In presenting a few of our leading spring costumes, we wish to announce that they represent only a small part of our entire program, This, to be appre- ciated, must be seen, Our buildings in Life Park (formerly Central) ate open to the public every morning. Do you wish to be beautiful? Take a course in our beautifying establish- ment (formerly the Metropolitan Mu- seum of Art). Prices reasonable. Whence the Socialists? HERE do the Socialists come from? There was a time when we thought they all came from abroad. So long as that were true, so long as - = they were purely exotic, there was no cause for alarm. It was a matter that could be remedied at a moment's notice + by the immigration authorities. But now the question has taken on a new aspect. Not only are the Socialists increasing in number, but there is good reason to believe that many of them are home-grown, that there is something new or old in our cherished soil upon which they thrive, that there is a So- cialist factory concealed somewhere in the American jungle. What's to be done? We should look into the matter. If this new industry is something which our civilization needs, we should ferret it out and cover it with a protective tariff. If not, the cause of it should be found and uprooted. Joe Bailey ON. JOSEPH BAILEY of Texas seems to be a remark- ably husky mental machine under imperfect control and direction. Evidently he wasn't spanked enough when he was a kid. It is hard to spank him now, no matter how ob- streperous he is, for he has not, only brains, but power. He doesn’t at all mind being disagreeable, and when he sets out to be so shows great efficiency. That is a useful trait, but it is a toss-up whether Joseph will ever be useful to the people of the country or not. He needs a guardian to teach him patience, self-control and to bear fools gladly. Maybe Senator Root could be induced to give him Jessons. TO THE PURE—ETC. comicbooks.com