Life, 1914-04-23 · page 8 of 44
Life — April 23, 1914 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical short stories and a fashion illustration. The bottom illustration mocks emerging women's fashion trends through absurdist job-based costumes: "Rectorette," "Chauffeuse," "Female Carrier," "Firewoman," "Pullman Portress," and "Collegienne." The satire targets women entering traditionally male-dominated professions—suggesting their fashion would awkwardly combine feminine dress with job-specific attire. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about women's expanding roles beyond homemaking. The stories above ("Modern Miracles" and "Business and Pleasure") use humor to comment on marriage, romance, and gender relations. The overall tone is light mockery of social change, typical of Life's satirical approach to contemporary issues.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
724 Modern Miracles ACK and Jill went up the customary hill in search of J some water that came under the pure food law. Jack entirely unsuspecting any sinister designs, stopped to listen to Jill, when he fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after. Jack promptly called an ambulance and was just as prompt- ly arrested for being drunk and disorderly, in ac- cordance with the customary hospital rule, but the whole matter being finally adjusted, he managed to caper home to bed and mend his head with a Sunday paper. Jill appeared on the scene, and her mother, who was about ten or eleven years behind the times, began to blame her, when Jill, grinning a Feminist grin, remarked: “My dear mother, don't you know that I am only doing my humble share in the elim- ination of the male?” And thereupon she tore off the plaster that covered Jack’s disaster. Business and Pleasure 'HEY sat together in the parlor of the little house on the corner (For Sale or Rent After May First, Bis- sett, Real Estate), and in soft tones he told her of his love for her. “My darling,” he said, removing his cigars to the other side (the celebrated Percy B. Sheeley brand, three for a quarter) as he took her hand (Pangate’s soap is the best, keeps the skin smooth) in his rough palm (no blisters with Binger’s golf clubs), “I have delayed until now ask- ing you if you will have me because my salary was not GHAUFFEURINE FEMAIL CARRIER oa Os Ie il oie Jarge enough even to get my life insured. [The Royal Palm Insurance Company, Tel. 7776 Barrington]. But since the head of our firm has raised my salary [Our Patent Weekly Pay Envelopes insure absolute secrecy— Badger’s], I now feel that I can support you.” While he had been speaking she had leaned back on the sofa (bargains at our annual Furniture Sale, Fifth Floor, Honeymaker’s), but now her lustrous eyes (Moonbeam Belladonna Powders) looked into his, and she whispered: “Is this a real proposal?” He clasped her in his sack suit (made to order with extra pair of trousers at Blinder’s for $28) and replied: “ How can you ask such a question. I love you madly, passionately. I would die willingly for you.” He drew from his pocket a ring. (Go to Wabbleton’s for diamonds) and attempted to place it upon her finger. “One moment,” she whispered shyly. “Do I understand that you promise to marry me?” “I do.” Her wealth of hair (use Bandoline Lustre, the only per- manent auburn hue) fell upon his shoulder. “Then,” she murmured sweetly, “I am yours,” as she leaned her other arm back of the sofa and touched a button in the wall. (Get the Pinkerton Dictagraph—never fails.) Comprehensive ILTUS (holding forth dramatically): _ Yes, gentlemen, the girls of to-day are all silly, irresponsible, immoral, with a tinge of mock intellectualism. Burnswe (quiszically): Have you married one or just been rejected by one? “ Both.” ij yenz0tes| SOME COMING FASHIONS