Life, 1913-09-04 · page 31 of 40
Life — September 4, 1913 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes satire with period advertising. The main satirical piece, "A Libel on Corpulence," responds to a reported French tax on overweight citizens. The author argues fat people benefit communities by stimulating trade (requiring more cloth) and providing "humorous observation"—a backhanded compliment reflecting era attitudes toward obesity as comedic. The piece then pivots its critique: if taxing fat people seems absurd, why not tax *actually* objectionable people—chronic bores, spendthrift wives, and domineering wealthy husbands? This targets contemporary social problems while using the fat-tax proposal as satire's jumping-off point. The accompanying cartoon shows a portly gentleman, visualizing "Corpulence" itself. The remainder is period advertising: "Mum" deodorant, Allen's Foot-Ease powder, and a Borland Electric automobile—typical early 20th-century consumer goods marketed via the magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
wl Geil aa “Mum” prevents unpleasant odors—as that! from perspiration — without harm to| pores or skin. Keeps body and clothing always sweet. Unscented—stainless—applied in an instant. 2S at drug- and department-stores, If your dealer hasn't “Mum,” send us his name and 2 cents and we'll send it postpaid. “Mum” Mfg Co 1106 Chestnut St Philadelphia | A Libel on Corpulence Corpulence CCORDING to reports in the pa- pers, a small town in France has levied a tax on fat people. Anybody who weighs under one hundred and thirty-five pounds is exempt, but from one hundred and thirty-five up victims have to pay a tax all the way from fifteen to thirty francs a year. Why do this in the case of fat peo- ple, who are under almost every cir- cumstance of great benefit to any community? In the first place, they stimulate trade because it takes more goods to The Man who put the EEs in FEET Look for This Trade-Mark Picture on the Label when buying ALLEN’S FOOT-EASE). The Antiseptic Powder to be shaken into the shoes for Tender, Aching, Swollen Feet. The standard remedy for the feet for a Quarter Century. 30,000 testimonials. Sold everywhere, 25c. Sample FREE. Address, cover them. In the second place, they are invariably good natured and fur- nish 4 basis for a considerable area of humorous observation. We regard this as being a great mis- take, but at the same time it does sug- gest an idea. Why not put a tax upon people who of best sellers and other reprehensibles in every strata of life? Why not tax the lady who insists upon living be- yond her husband's income? Also the gentleman who, being possessed of large means of his own, makes a slave of his wife? The possibilities of this idea are lim- are really objectionable? Why not itless. It might solve the entire prob- tax all chronic bores? The authors lem of revenue. ALLEN S. OLMSTED, Le Roy, N. Y. With the Clean Cut, Thoroughbred Air IN the Borland great thought and effort have been given to the making of a car that is the embodiment of good taste—a roomy car having the snappy, speedy lines that are the last word in automobile de- sign. And yet there is preserved that restraint of design and finish demanded by “those who know.” ‘orland Either Forward 5 Passenger The Electric oF Rear Drive Coupe, $2900 The Borland Electric is the car with the clean-cut, thoroughbred air— combining the essential dash with solid dependability of design and construction, Spacious seats for five, all facing forward; horizontal control; cither forward or rear drive; six forward and three reverse speeds. Auto- matic cut-out disconnects power when emergency brake is applied. “Exide” batteries standard equipment. Send for the Borland Poster Book The Borland Grannis Company 312 East Huron Street, Chicago 4) comicbooks.com Baer coxa eaen aie Sais)