Life, 1913-03-06 · page 41 of 72
Life — March 6, 1913 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes a romantic courtship scenario through the lens of a wager. A man in a wheelchair refuses to take medicine, and a woman ("Sue") tries to coerce him with kisses as bets—first wagering he *will* take it, then that he *won't*. The joke's point: the man realizes that recovery would end their pleasant daily interactions. By staying ill, he ensures ongoing visits, conversation, and the prospect of collecting kisses over time ("one after breakfast each day for four days"). He even notes improvements in his mood and surroundings now that he has reason to linger with her. The satire targets early 20th-century courtship conventions—the coy bargaining, the use of physical affection as incentive, and the romantic notion that suffering or prolonged illness creates opportunity for connection. It's gentle humor about how romantic interest can perversely motivate someone to avoid recovery.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
E: I won't take it! Sue: Oh, yes you will. You must. He: I'll bet I won't! Sue: I'll bet you two Iisses you will. He: Done. I refuse to take it and you lose. Sue: Not at all. Why—er—I meant: I'll bet you two kisses you won't take it. He: All right. I will, You lose again—that's four. Sue: But wait. I seem to lose either way. He: That's so. I ought to let you win some of the time. Well, then, you bet me two kisses I won't take it; I refuse to take the stuff. You win—I lose, and I'll pay up at once. Sue: Not so fast. I owe four, against your two; two from me will balance it He: No! No! No! I'll pay up my two now, and you pay yours on the instalment plan. I’m not a grasp- ing creditor. I wouldn't crowd, or press, or embarrass a debtor. y terms, you know. Suppose you pay one after breakfast each day for four days. Good. We're now assured of pleasant weather for four more days, at least. . . .° And, do you know, the wall paper in this room isn’t so utterly unattractive after all. Everything’s looking up. Sune: But the medicine. Dr—. He: No. Won't you please take it? I think not. I mustn't recover too fast. comicbooks.com