Life, 1913-05-22 · page 35 of 48
Life — May 22, 1913 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces: **"Choosing His Assistant"** (poem by Walter G. Doty): A misogynistic cartoon poem where the Devil seeks an assistant. The joke presents a woman—described through stereotypically seductive traits (long lashes, scarlet lips, "bewitching ways")—as more devilish than men because she's a skilled liar whose duplicity is undetectable. The satire targets women's perceived untrustworthiness and manipulative femininity, a common trope of the era. **"Passing a Crisis"**: This piece satirizes early 20th-century anxieties about changing female behavior. It mocks concerns that if young women became respectful daughters, families would stabilize and the suffrage movement would lose momentum (and jobs). The dark humor suggests elite fears about women's independence, implying that societal "salvation" requires women to remain "immodest and disrespectful"—essentially, uncontrolled and rebellious. Together, these pieces reflect anxieties about shifting gender roles and women's growing social power during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
hestra p and nday. v York Choosing His Assistant HE devil found he needed aid And advertised for an assistant; ‘And, knowing they would be well paid, Folks came from places near and distant. They came from stations high and low, Clerks, doctors, lawyers, merchants, teachers, Cowns, paupers, kings, and—do you know ?— [understand there were some preachers. “J could promote an imp,” said he, “Bat there’s more devil in a human.” He scanned his callers carefully, And finally he picked a woman— Alovely woman, coy, demure, With lashes long and ready blushes, With scarlet lips that held a lure, And voice as sweet as any thrush’s— Avwoman with bewitching ways And swishing skirts and ribbons flying. Not Satan's self, so clear her gaze, Knew when she was or was not lying. “You'll do,” said he. “No more I'll seck. You suit me best for many reasons. You'll help me more in one short week Than any man could in ten seasons.” Walter G. Doty Summer Homes Number of VOGUE Robert McMonnies' villa in France ‘A Famous Newport House A Long Island Country Place A Week-End Summer Cottage Complete with Furniture The Second Installment of Vogue's Etiquette Series, and A 16-Page London Supplement, and ADVANCE NEWS OF THE MIDSUMMER FASHIONS . NOW ON SALE The Forty Beaches of the New Jersey Coast These summer playgrounds of the American people are made easily accessible from all parts of the country by the comprehensive and convenient train service of the Pennsylvania System. are all described in the Pennsylvania Railroad Summer Excursion Book, copies of which may be,obtained free of Pennsylvania Railroad? Ticket’ ‘Agents, or they will be sent post paid (ont ‘appli- cation by Jas. P. Anderson,;General Passenger Agent, Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, Pa. Passing a Crisis OUNG girls generally having determined to be respectful to their parents, a crisis Y was immediately precipitated. “Homes will soon come in if this keeps up,” said a prominent Government official, who wished his name withheld, “and husbands znd wives will be living together quietly.” “This undoubtedly means,” said a prominent banker, “the decline of the suffrage movement with all the advertising that goes with it. Thousands will be thrown out of employment. We must act.” Confronted by the crisis all young girls everywhere were appealed to with the result that they promised to remain immodest and disrespectful and slangy and irresponsible. Thus the country was saved. comicbooks.com