Life, 1913-11-13 · page 17 of 40
Life — November 13, 1913 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous instructional guide satirizing both rigid Victorian etiquette and pseudo-scientific anatomical naming. The page presents six sequential positions for properly entering a formal drawing room, each labeled with exaggerated Latin anatomical terms (obliquus externus abdominis, gastrocnemius, etc.). The joke mocks the pretentious formality of upper-class social conventions by treating basic social interactions as if they were complex anatomical exercises requiring scientific precision. The illustrated mishaps—particularly Position 4, where the man trips over the woman's train—suggest that following these elaborate rules inevitably fails, revealing the absurdity of rigid social protocols. The final position, where he "playfully" slaps the hostess to recover from embarrassment, adds crude humor typical of satirical magazines, poking fun at both gentleman's etiquette and Victorian propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“TERE: A Compendium of Timely Information How to Enter a Drawing-room ron ‘Me hat should Position 1 Advance briskly, contracting the obliquus externus abdominis (fig. A), to throw out the chest (tig. B). Positiox 3 When the Jady_turns, contract the Gas: trocnemius (fig. E) and jump lightly over her train (fg F). Position s Recover yourself quickly and distend the Obicularis Oris (hg. H) in a good-natured smile. Positiox 2 Bending the right arm from the Platysma Myoides (tig, C), grasp the hand of your hostess (fig. D). Position 4 Should you misjudge the distance with the above result (see fig. G). Position 6 Then, to relieve the embarras hostess.” slap her playfully o (fig. 1). comicbooks.com