Life, 1912-07-18 · page 4 of 44
Life — July 18, 1912 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes courtship and dating customs of the early 20th century. It depicts two fashionably dressed women wading in water—one holding what appears to be a fishing line or rope attached to a man submerged beside them. The caption's double entendre suggests women "catching" or securing romantic partners through strategic flirtation, using aquatic settings (beaches, swimming) as venues for courtship. The humor relies on treating romantic pursuit as literal fishing—men are "catches" to be landed like fish. This reflects anxieties about changing gender roles, as women increasingly participated in public leisure activities and took active roles in courtship rather than passive ones. The page also advertises LIFE's upcoming Beach Number and subscription offers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sih we ww be 2 KGa Sometimes You Can Land a Man in the Water (ee san The Beach Number of LIFE is out next Tuesday. You'll be in if you buy one for ten cents. Or better still, take a three months’ trial subscription. And by the way, we will Special send you free on receipt Offer of a two cent stamp : Enclosed find a copy of One Dollar (Canadian $1.13, Foreign $1.26). Send LIFE for three months to Vest-Poc Silk Hat The Miniature Life This is a small copy (4% by 53; in size), printed in colors A and full of the best things ever published a in LIFE. Send Open only to new subscribers: no subscription your name and renewed at this rate, Trial subscriptions should address f come to us direct; not through an agent or dealer. That Base aa Naser ts with the ; LIFE, 17 West 31, New York Coming in Seplember stamp ; ONE YEAR $6.00, (CANADIAN $5.52, FOREION $6.04.) comicbookees