Life, 1911-08-17 · page 13 of 40
Life — August 17, 1911 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Main Illustration**: A couple in a rowboat on a river—the woman holds a parasol while the man rows. The caption reads: "Wife: I like to feel, my dear, when I see you toiling in the hot sun, that I'm doing something to help, even if it's only steering." **The Satire**: This is domestic humor poking fun at the division of labor in marriage. The wife claims to be "helping" by merely holding the boat's direction while the husband does all the physical labor (rowing in the hot sun). It's a gentle jab at wives who claim participation in household tasks while doing minimal actual work—a common marital complaint of the era. **Context**: The accompanying text discusses marriage difficulties and Entertainment Bureau services, suggesting this represents typical relationship dynamics of early 20th-century middle-class America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
st LEP prere S Wifey: 1 Like 10 FEEL, MY DEAR, WHEN 1 SEE YOU TOILING IN THE HOT SUN, THAT I'M DOING something TO WeLt, EVEN with one woman, whom he doesn’t understand and cannot get along with, he ought to get out and sce the world a little. The chances are ten to one that he will begin to realize very soon that all women are very much alike, and that with a little yielding on his part he will be able to get more fun with his present wife than with some unknown quantity, who is ready to drop him at the first way station. This Icads us to state that from this time on, owing to the increase in our business, we shall be obliged to draw the line a little closer. Every prospective customer must give us some indication that he is really anxious to get along with his wife if he possibly can. If you have been married a second time we do not necessarily require any reference from your former wife, but we expect you to write us fully and inform us of your intention. We like, for example, this frank and manly statement recently placed on file: Dear Sir: Two years ago I married a girl of eighteen, who had been edu- cated in three boarding schools, had taken a trip abroad, who knew music, French, and was an accomplished singer. But’ in a short time I discovered that she could not add up a simple column of figures, did not know how to make up a bed, and has recently taken to wearing harem skirts, Iam quiet. unassuming and methodical in my habits, and sincerely desire her happiness, but Tam no house; Keeper myself and I suffer more than I can say.” Is there any hope? IP IT'S ONLY STEERING. This gentleman needs no Entertainment Bureau; he has one at home if he only knew it. He needs no outside excite- The trouble with him is that he takes his married life He thinks he has married a woman who ought Let him read the following letter from ment. too seriously. to take care of him. another customer: Dear Sir: I hesitate to place myself in your hands, but I am impelled to do so because of your great reputation. Several years ago I mar- ried a lady who is eminently qualified to run a household. She is an expert bookkeeper, knows all the details of housekeeping and runs my home like clockwork. I can't make a move in any direc- tion that she doesn't know about it; she has figured out to a cent just how much money I spend in cigars in a year, saves up money constantly, and, in fact, is an ideal person; yet i am a miserable man, Oftentimes I have an impulse to go out and have a good time, but the is horrified at the suggestion, What would you sug: gest We have writien to this gentleman to come on at once, sending him our book, “ One Thousand Ways to Leave Ho! and place himself in complete charge of our Entertainment Committee. In about six months he will long for home so that nothing can keep him awa i These two cases illustrate the variety of our business. We cater to all. In some instances we treat the wife— comicbooks.com