Life, 1912-02-15 · page 14 of 44
Life — February 15, 1912 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes social inequality and class conflict in early 20th-century America. The six figures represent different social positions: a "Poor Struggling Clerk," a "Private" (soldier), an unhappily married millionaire, a "Suffragette Wife of Unhappy Millionaire," "The Heir," and a "French Parlor Maid." The satire suggests that wealth doesn't ensure happiness—the millionaire and his suffragette wife are both miserable despite their money. The cartoon critiques both economic disparities and emerging women's rights activism (suffragettes), presenting them as sources of domestic discord rather than legitimate grievances. The caption notes the dialogue is "unfit for publication," implying scandalous or vulgar exchanges occur among these characters.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A PROBLEM PLAY CAST OF CHARACTERS AND PLOT, THE DIALOGUE IS UNFIT FOR PUBLICATION both Mr. Taft and Mr. Roosevelt have ordered special costumes for the occa- sion, Mr. Roosevelt, at present, is hesitating between a gunpowder effect, with megaphone trimmings, and a com- plete suit of brass armor held together with Tennessee Coal and Iron chains. Applications from prominent officials who desire to have special costumes designed should be invariably accom- panied by references and a deposit of one hundred dollars, which will not be returned; having been in the dress- making business now for some time, we make a rule never to return any- thing. Several prominent members of the Army and Navy have applied to us for new costumes to wear in private, and we are now at work on a special design for a general, to be worn at Palm Beach. Up to the present time our Army men have worn the ordinary costumes in private; but we intend to give them the same opportunity as some of our prominent politicians. There is no reason why a soldier should not be able to express himself privately as well as publicly. By doing this we expect to eliminate the intense feeling of jealousy that has existed up to the present time in Army and Navy circles against our Supreme Court justices. A new spring design is for a bride- groom, to be worn either at Niagara Falls, Old Point Comfort or Washing- ton. Any bridegroom who desires to have a fit should notify us about three weeks in advance, owing to the rush ANOTHER BLACK HAND OUTRAGE THIS TIME AT THE SOUTH END of orders. Bridegrooms, however, should not notify the ladies whom they are going to marry that they are hav- ing special costumes made, owing to the fact that the great work that we are doing to uplift the mass of Ameri- can men is not thoroughly understood as yet, and some brides have a decided objection to going on a honeymoon trip with one of our superb creatior Address all communications to Life’s Fashion Reform League. Halt! A COCAINE seller in Chicago com- plains that he paid $6000 a year to the police for protection and then didn’t get it. Things have come to a pretty pass. When respectable lawbreakers are no longer able to get justice from dis- reputable law-enforcers, it is time to call a halt. Our system of graft should be revolutionized and put on a safe and sane basis. “1S my hat on straight?” “No. One eye shows.”