Life — February 19, 1914 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a satirical illustration from *Life* magazine featuring a formal dinner scene. A man in evening dress holds opera glasses or binoculars to his face, seemingly distracted or pretending to observe something, while an elegantly dressed woman sits beside him at the dining table. The humorous point likely satirizes social pretense at high-society dinners—the man's absurd use of optical instruments at the table suggests he's either genuinely oblivious to proper etiquette, or deliberately performing indifference to his companion. The illustration's style and the partial caption beginning "The female the" suggest commentary on gender dynamics or courtship behavior among the wealthy. Without the complete caption text, the exact satirical target remains somewhat unclear, though it appears to mock either male boorishness or the theatrical nature of upper-class socializing.