Life, 1912-07-25 · page 36 of 41
Life — July 25, 1912 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical story mocking women's suffrage advocates. The narrative depicts three women—Mrs. Robinson, Jones, and Smith—becoming convinced that giving women the vote will purify politics and solve society's problems. They attack a man (Robinson) to force him to wear a blue ribbon supporting "Votes for Women." The satire's point: the story shows this leads to chaos—the women are jailed, one loses her car, another pursues inappropriate romances, and Robinson goes insane and marches in suffrage parades. The final line, "Here is a pretty tale of sweetness and light," is deeply ironic. **The context**: This reflects early 20th-century anti-suffrage arguments that women voters would not actually improve politics as claimed, and that suffragists were irrational or destructive. Life magazine used humor to ridicule suffrage movements. The brick through the window scene suggests violence, implying suffragists were dangerous extremists. The page also contains unrelated advertisements for cigarettes and whiskey.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
a pennant they called together upon Mrs. Robinson. Mrs. Robinson knew needlework the moment she saw it and became convinced that the time had come for women to demand their rights. “What,” she exclaimed; “what is socialism but woman's suffrage under a mask. As soon as women can vote all the wrongs ef the world will be righted and politics will become pure. At this Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Smith set up a great shout, “Votes for wom- en!” and all three fell upon Robinson and tied a big bow of blue ribbon on his arm. When Robinson entered his club the next morning he met Jones and Smith. “What have you got on your arm?” asked Jones and Smith in one breath. “Tt is the order of purity,” returned Robinson, combing his whiskers with a silver pocket-comb. “Women must be permitted to vote. They are going to purify politics. Their sweet natures——" There was a crash. A brick sailed through the window and struck Robinson on the brow. As he fell he heard a ery, “Votes for women!” Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Rob- inson were taken to jail and fed through the nose. Jones penitently sold his wife's auto- mobile and quadrupled the cook's salary. Smith proposed without success to dozen pretty young women during his wife's absence. Robinson had water on the brain, lost his mind and marched in the suffrage parade. Here is a pretty tale of sweetness and light. Old Overholt Rye “Same for 100 years"” It had a place on the side- boards of old-time mansions. Ite a whiskey of Full, rich bodys Za flavor and Aged in oak bar- A. Overholt & Co. Pittsburgh. Pa. PHILIP MORRIS Original London CIGARETTES | GOOD swim or shore dinner— whatever helps to create a healthy hunger for a cigarette—also helps you to appreciate the finer flavor and more agreeable aroma of “PHILIP MORRIS”. You don’t know how much “smoke enjoyment” can be extracted from a cigarette until you have touched a match to a “Philip Morris"— there are ten big treats in each “Little Brown Box”. If your dealer says “Out”, send us remittance for the desired quantity—do not accept substitutes. Different sizes for different occasions —all of them of the same exquisite quality as the “ Cambridge”’ (reg. size) Plain or Cork Tip CAMBRIDGE 2% MORISETTE, (Gold Tip) 2% i AMBASSADOR - in. 35¢ BANQUET. - 8 in. $1.00 PHILIP MORRIS & CO., Ltd., pept.4, 402-406 W. B’dway, N.Y. Canadian Address? Dept. J, Factories: New York Montreal 487-491 St. Catherine St., East, Montreal London The Fable of the Rich Samaritan I will tell you about Miss Van Goldy- locks and her beau. Miss Van Goldylocks’ father worked very hard so that his daughter might have everything she wanted. Miss Van Goldylocks had a new dress made every time the dressmaker changed her mind. She had the very dearest little gowns in the whole city. She spent a great deal also on hats, taxis, bridge and entertain- ing. She had exquisite taste in expensive 195 things and spelt, very well, indeed, for her age. She was,a great catch. Miss Van Goldylocks’ beau worked downtown. He held, a very responsible position, He was sober, industrious, and everybody liked him. His mother was a Van Something and he was related on his father’s side to all the nice people. He was very much in love with Miss Van Goldylocks. One evening he called upon Miss Van Goldylocks to ask her to become his (Concluded on page 1497) comicbooks.com