Life, 1911-06-08 · page 14 of 44
Life — June 8, 1911 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces mocking early-20th-century gender dynamics: **Top cartoon**: An editor and author discuss what makes a bestseller. The author lists clichéd "masculine" traits—a valet, rose-scented cigarettes, silk dressing gown, brandy, and saying "damn"—as guaranteed commercial appeal. The satire targets how popular literature relied on shallow stereotypes of sophistication and masculinity. **"The Weaker Sex" story**: The title ironically contradicts the narrative. A young woman spends her day aggressively dominating salespeople, workers, and service staff—yet still feels rejected when a suitor won't promise to "protect" her. The concluding anecdotes mock her simultaneous demands: she won't tolerate disrespect, yet her date's quip about not getting a subway seat wounds her. The satire targets contradictions in how women were viewed—simultaneously depicted as fragile beings needing protection while showing themselves forceful and capable. The closing aphorism suggests women's education benefits society generally, not just themselves—a dig at limited female ambitions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Editor: WMAT MAKES YOU FEEL SO SURE IT WOULD BE A BEST SELLER? Author: MY DEAR SIR, THE HERO KEEPS A VALET, SMOKES ROSE SCENTED CIGARETTES, WEARS A SILK DRESSING GOWN, DRINKS BRANDY AND SODA AND Says “ DAMN.” The Weaker Sex HE young woman had spent a busy day. She had browbeaten fourteen sales- people, bullyragged a floorwalker, argued victoriously with a milliner, laid down the law to a modiste, nipped in the bud a taxi chauffeur’s attempt to overcharge her, made a strect car conductor stop the car in the middle of a block for her, discharged her maid and engaged another, and otherwise refused to allow herself to be imposed upon. Yet she did not smile that evening when a young man begged: “Let me be your protector through life!” DA: You don’t mean to say that Algy called you old and homely? Anice: Not in exactly those words, but he said if we rode home in the Sub- way I might not get a seat. educated man betters himself. An educated woman betters posterity. “SHALL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THAT NEW NOVEL OF MINE ON THIS SIDE OP THE CLIFF”