Life, 1912-01-25 · page 37 of 44
Life — January 25, 1912 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical piece titled "Changing Views on Matrimony," presented as a dialect monologue by a Black preacher addressing his congregation about marriage—specifically warning against it. **The Satire:** The joke relies on racist stereotyping common in early 20th-century American humor. The preacher uses exaggerated dialect and cherry-picked biblical examples (Peter, John, Samson, Job, Adam) to argue that marriage has ruined men throughout history. The punchline occurs when his own wife enters the church mid-sermon, forcing him to abruptly reverse course and praise marriage as "a good [woman]." **The Point:** This plays on the stereotype of henpecked husbands and domineering wives—a frequent comedy trope of the era. The humor depends entirely on racial caricature and dialect humor that would be considered offensive today. The remainder of the page consists of period advertisements, including one for a "Sexology" book on marriage guidance and Philip Morris cigarettes emphasizing factory cleanliness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Changing Views on Matrimony “Marriage,” said a negro preacher, addressing his congregation, “is a mighty serious affair, specially fur de man. Dar was Peter an’ John, Da wasn't marryin’ men. Peter wouldn't hab married de daughter ob de gubner, an’ John he wouldn't hab jined han's wid de prosecutin’ ‘turney’s arnly chile. Dem men was smart, lemme tell yer. Day had hoss sense, Look at all de big n in de Bible what did not get mar- ried. Samson, he got married, an’ his ole wife paralyzed him. Then Job he got married, an’ dinged if de ‘oman didn’t want him ter cuss God an’ dic. She didn’t care so much ‘bout him cussin’ God; de dying part was what she was arter, She was a bad ‘oman an’ would hab got any man inter trouble. Yer all know de story ob Adam. S‘pozen he hadn't got married. He'd er done well, lemme tell yer. It’ was marryin’ dat broke him up in business. I might go on dis way citin’ facks till your ha'r would turn white, an’ still you young folks would keep on a tinkin’ "bout get- tin’ married. Yer’s got de notion in yer head, somehow, an’ no amount ob reason will get it out.” Just then the old man’s wife entered the church. “ he continued, “as I was saying, there is nothin’ like marryin’. a good Ef I had nebber married but an’ had happened to cotch her first A Happy Marriage Depends largely ona knowl- edge of the whole truth avout self and sez and their relation to life and health. ‘This knowledge does not come intelligently of itself, nor correctly from ordinary every-day sources. SEXOLOGY (Uiustratea) M.D. imparts in a clear, tt jd Import to Her Daughter. ite Should Have. All In one volume. Illus! $2. posto: Wrie tor “Other Peopie's Opinions" and Table of Contents Puritan Pub. Co., 776 Perry Bldg., Phila., P: PRINCESS HOTEL, BERMUDA} THE IDEAL WINTER RESORT. {ates 400. Outdoor life all winter. | ‘idling. tennis, golf, yachting, sea F b ails two ays from ork by fast, Iu iwice a weel HOWE & TWOROGER, Mgrs., Hamilton, Bermuda BRIDGE WHIST ACCESSORIES mt) Ivins our earmple wallet; 42 Forma Litbo- laying canis and laetrated catalog. & CO... 144 Peart St., New York RIUM se: si. a ORIGINAL (** Philip Morris Yoxoow Cigarettes Much is usually said about quality, fussy packages and the like— little about cleanness. With us eles is important as quality—we give the maximum of both. Philip Morris quality has made a world wide reputation. Wherever the sun shines you can buy Philip Morris. For more than half a century this demand has persistently grown, millions and millions are consumed annually, until now there's a factory in New York, Montreal, London and Cairo, Egypt. “P.M.” quality and cleanliness are analogous. When you put a “P. M.” between your lips, it’s worthy of resting there. Made in a scrupulously clean, bright, sunshiny factory, described by authorities as “ The Model Factory.” Whether or not you like PHILIP MORRIS CIGARETTES depends only upon whether or net you want an all Turkish smoke. For there's nothing else in them. Your dealer can supply you. If not, write us. PHILIP MORRIS & CO., Ltd. 417 West Broadway New York City Stamford, Con my happiness in dis life would have wan't here. It would hab done yer good. been as eternal as the flowin’ of the Yes, bredren, if Samson had married de spring er de glorious rising ob de sun. right ‘oman he ight had been libin’ I'se in fabor ob marriage, I is, an’ when till yet an’ enjoyin’ hisse’f on de fat ob Paul says, ‘He what marries does well,’ de lan’, An’ dar’s Job. right dar I agrees wid him.” ried a good ’oman, like “Hole on dar,” exclaimed the old instance, she wou! man's wife. “A pusson come up ter ter cuss God, but-——" His "said dat yer was stepped from the door, and the old man, down beah ginnin me a mighty blast observing the movement, continued : afore all dese people.” “She would have hustled him outen de “Dat am de wust fabrication, chile, bed an’ made him chop wood an’ fetch what I eber hearn. I’se been standin’ water, As I’se got ter go now an’ watch here complimentin’ yer fur de las’ fif- dat smokehouse, de congregation will be teen minutes, an’ I's sorry now dat yer dismissed."—Arkansas Traveler. pou) de house jes now a