Life, 1911-12-07 · page 90 of 112
Life — December 7, 1911 — page 90: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous short story, not a political cartoon. It depicts a newlywed husband returning home, only to be intercepted by his wife's newly hired maid before he can ascend the stairs. The joke hinges on class and domestic service hierarchies of the era: the maid, speaking with the "calm and superior air" acquired through years of metropolitan service, announces that "madam is engaged"—blocking his access to his own wife. The husband's confused responses and growing frustration create comedy as he's repeatedly rebuffed by a servant who outranks him in his own home through her authority over the household schedule. The satire targets both the pomposity of urban servants and the absurdity of a newlywed being treated as an intruder in his own residence. It's a gentle domestic comedy playing on early 20th-century class pretensions and the unexpected power domestic staff wielded in wealthy households.
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The Parting to her The young and innocent bridegroom ladi joyfully wurned his steps homeward. It ing was the first day after their revurn from had} the honeymoon. row He entered his new home, As he was oth about to run up the front stairs—two giet steps at a time—he was confronted by her his wife's new maid. be “Pardon me, sir,” she said, * met adam is engag The bridegroom stopped. The sud- denness of this unexpected obstacle, cipitated thus upon his upward pa dumfounded him “What do you mean?” said. “Who's there? The maid surveyed him with that : calm and superior air which can only te a be acquired by a decade of service in the greatest metropolis of the world She seemed preoccupied It Couldn’t Have Happened With sie MOTZ Cushion Tires a Core, Eee, ma before with a lunatic, he had read ac- “ Perhaps next week,” she said, “say Tire punctured—neighborhood bad—idle, curious loafers gathered around—miles from a garage—no one to help her—this is the predicament that your wife or daughter may be com- pelled to face any minute, if she drives a car equipped with pneumatic tires. Yet these humiliations, troubles, worry, delays and expenses are wholly unnecessary. For Motz Cushion Tires have forever put an’ end to such difiiculties. Thursday I ht see her. Wouldn't it clai . lantwise bridges and secret-process. rubber, The double st The Trouble-Proof Tire ireads. which are noiched. ais make this the non-skid tire. | be better to make it Friday? (See illus: lon.) “T think it mig I only gested The Popular Tire | Thursday out of consideration for the In the year 1910 the sales of Motz Tires increased sixteen-fold fact that you have been recently mar- counts of how they were to be treated. bett He thought it best to humor her. grin “You think,” he said, “that 1 # Tires do away with punctures, blowouts, rime witing gerous . And they are quickly applied. For they are quick able—fit any standard clincher univer or demountable rim. The Economy © on your tire tire tools to buy oF carry. ushion Tire is guaranteed, in writing, to give wo ye . Th uverage life of a Motz C longer to. 20,0 A pi matic tire does well to last 3,000 miles. Moreover. the Motz C a greater eff than any. ? tire. Fo nobile makers have found that. on a given charge of fuel, their cars travel _more miles when eau! Motz Cushion Tires than with th grade pneumatics The Resilient Tire Si Atwericas-bultt rieature electrics "They use Mota tires, uote wiuistandiag the fact that, oo the average Ie would cont ther | ties. “Thus they give you a troubleprow/ eatyriding totor Cat The Tire for You to Investigate | Don't subject your people to the humilla- ton of such street. scenes as showa avove. Don't buy. tve worries witha pleasure car. Don't pay four times as much for up is necemary.. Ellminate worry, trouble pense by Investigating Mot Cusbion Tires. ‘Sead us your nameand we will mall you our latest. Booklet. together. wit Rames of automoblic makers who apecity Mots Cushion. Tires—also, letters from Dleasure car owners who ere now using the Motz Tire. Please write today, re- questiog Booklet 91. THE MOTZ TIRE AND RUBBER CO. Factories and Executive Offices: AKRON, ONIO A ‘and 1911 records show an increase of 500 per cent. over 1910, | ried. Ist Tire The bridegroom with a supreme ef. fort continued to control himself “Might I ask.” he said, “how: the lady will occupy herself meanwhile? 1 hesitate to mention the matter, which seems so personal, but while you are conveying this information to me you might, if it is entirely in. accordance with your dignity, inform me who is at present engaged w wife?” The maid consul pad Certainly.” she said, with an almost unexpected air of complacence. “This poss pres kne you self Branches: New Vork, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City | when passing overa We also manufacture Demountadle Solid and n actual photograph; Cushion Ties for Commercial Cars. To Guard the Honor of a Famous Whiskey . When Watchman Whiskey was brought to its present state of fe perfection—when it had been distilled after a master process, and ma- fa tured into rare mellowness—its makers sought to keep it so for you. The solution of their problem was the Non-refillable bottle—a TH guard of honor for your good health and your lasting enjoyment. Ye Olde (In Non-refillable Bottles, IRISH BULL, At Leading Hotels, Cafés, Restaurants, and Dealers comicbookMeumt 1052