Life, 1913-06-12 · page 39 of 44
Life — June 12, 1913 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine combines satirical book review with period advertising. The central feature is Arthur Guiterman's rhymed review of Robert Herrick's novel *One Woman's Life*, which critiques women's economic dependence and parasitic behavior. The poem follows "Milly Ridge," a woman raised to be decorative but useless, who serially marries for security rather than love. She drains her artist husband Jack's creative ambitions by forcing him into commercial illustration work; after his death from discontent, she exploits her friend Ernestine's business venture, then abandons it to marry again. Guiterman's satirical point—expressed in his closing lines—is withering: the novel illustrates that women are taught to seek financial support and leisure rather than independence or contribution. His exaggerated claim that reading the book destroyed his faith in women reflects early 20th-century anxieties about female economic parasitism and lack of purpose. The surrounding advertisements for silk stockings and beauty soap reinforce the era's consumer culture aimed at women, adding ironic context to the review's critique of female materialism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
—— SILK] HOSE Assured quality - ;Unequalled ~ Serviceé =~ a subject f —good dress demands it. But the enjoyment of that = luxury without added ex- pense, finds its only solution instylish Phoenix: Silk Hose. * It gives such extraordinary service that, bought by the box and worn daily, it costs no more in the end than good cotton hose. In distinctive 4-pair boxes MEN'S, 50c., 75c., $1.00 Pair WOMEN'S, 75c., $1., $1.50, $2 Pair At All Good Dealers “Made in America” by PHOENIX KNITTING WORKS 234 Broadway, Milwaukee LT oe aoe Ahnu ! if A Happy Marriage Depends largely on a know! edge of the whole truth about self and sex aod their relation to life and hei knowledge does come intellizently of I nor correctly from ordivar every day sources. SEXOLOGY Hiustrated) M.D, imparts In a clear, Her Duushier. af postpald. PEW YORE Ovi Tae ot Coments se ib. Co., 776 Perry Bidg., Phila., Pa. pean bald ley Rhymed Review One Woman's Life (By Robert Herrick. The Mac- millan Co.) Her training guarded Milly Ridge From doing anything alarming; Though useless as a summer midge, Her Femininity was charming. She jilted Clarence, Edgar too, (And Clarence was a money-spin- ner), To marry Jack, an artist, who, Though poor, was bound to be a winner. But Milly, wedded, still remained A pretty drone that must have honey; And Jack’s creative impulse waned,— She kept him busy making money. An office tool, a mere machine, He sunk his glowing expectations And drudged, for Bunker's Magazine, On silly, half-tone illustrations Until he died of discontent With inartistic_ mush-and-water, And Milly hardly had a cent To feed herself and baby daughter. But Ernestine, who did so well In laundries, fell in love with Milly And took her home with her to dwell And keep things feminine and frilly. And Milly used her witching grace To conquer Ernestine’s objections And coaxed her friend to start a place For selling cakes and French con- fections. When Ernestine had spent her cash, Our Milly found that bake-shops bored her; She let the business go to smash And married Ed, who still adored her. Now Milly typifies her sort; For “ Milly was a little grafter.” We teach our girls to seek support, And lives of ease are all they're after. Which may be true; I do not know; But when I read this book by Her- rick, My faith in Woman fell that low You couldn't raise it with a derrick! Arthur Guiterman, The Question of the Day The question of to-day, of to-morrow, and of every succeeding day is Have You Used Pears’ Soap? The Great English Complexion Soap If you have not, you have neglected your duty to your skin and complexion. If you have, you may feel happy, for you will have done the best that + can be done for the Health and Beauty of the Skin comicbooks.com