Life, 1912-04-04 · page 24 of 80
Life — April 4, 1912 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks men's fashion reform and political ambition. The cartoon depicts a mother scolding a boy ("Sam Johnson") about losing his front teeth, while text discusses Life magazine's "Fashion Reform League" promoting elaborate costumes for prominent men. The satire targets two things: (1) absurd fashion pretensions—the league supposedly receives congratulations from royalty (Japan's Emperor, King George) for dressing men impressively; (2) Presidential candidates' vanity. Politician Robert La Follette is ridiculed for discarding his custom "costume" and requesting a "winding sheet" (burial shroud) of sackcloth—suggesting his political prospects are dead. The joke: politicians are fashion-obsessed peacocks requiring special wardrobes to appear credible. The domestic scene with the boy undercuts this pretension, emphasizing that real life concerns are mundane, not theatrical.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“SAM JOUNSON, YOU'VE Jadies to make them appear fatter than ever, it having been demonstrated by actual statistics that a fat woman can be more obviously loved than any other creature on the face of the earth. Come and get fitted at once to one of our thousand-dollar creations. Q. Is it proper to wear pajamas? Maun S: . A. Nou cast of California. Lire’s hion Reform League, in recently taking up the men’s fashions and making special efforts to clothe yur prominent men with the impor- tance that they deserve, has received congratulations from all over the world, including personal messages from several crowned heads. TEN’ A HONEST. EN Fi MAMMY, Yo 1 peror cables: “You now lead the world in sar- torial madness. Accept my homage.” King George writes: “Mary and I wish to thank you for costumes recently received. While my form does not lend itself to any mar- tial splendor, the designs you have le for me have been of great as- sistance in my interviews with Mary, and I can see that she is now treating me with increased respect. For this I am profoundly grateful.” We have just designed a special cos- tume for Presidential candidates, so made as to show at a glance the stage of their progress. Mr. Robert La Fol- lette has suddenly discarded the one The Japane: T TWO OF YO" FRONT TRE Gor ’EM IN ME POCKET.” we made for him and has telegraphed for a winding sheet of modern design, made of durable sackcloth. We for- warded it to him by return expre All Presidential candidates who de- sire to be fitted with costumes for stump speaking, after-dinner speaking and other necessary occasions will please form in line in front of our men’s tailoring establishment on Tues- days and Thursdays. Meanwhile we call attention to our new class in after-dinner speaking, under the guidance of professional toastmasters, The idea of this course is to enable all of our customers to make after-dinner speeches in such a manner that, although they may talk Comicbooks.com