Life, 1914-05-21 · page 41 of 52
Life — May 21, 1914 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents **satirical commentary on marriage** alongside period advertisements. The main editorial essay, titled "Marriage—An Achievement?", critiques the romantic notion that successful marriage represents personal progression. Instead, the author argues marriage is fundamentally a series of **compromises and defensive strategies**—particularly requiring husbands to learn what *not* to say to their wives. The satire targets both genders: women are mocked for trying to "remake" their husbands, while men are advised that marital success depends on silence and strategic conversation control. The piece sardonically suggests wives should be treated as "equals" primarily through politeness and accepting one's own weakness—hardly an endorsement of partnership. The accompanying advertisements (Sanatogen health tonic, dancing instruction, sexology books) reflect early 20th-century concerns about health, modern social behaviors, and self-improvement—typical companion content for a satirical magazine addressing middle-class readers navigating changing gender roles and marital expectations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Marriage — An Achievement? All successful marriage is in the nature of an achievement; whether it is done at white heat by the trans- mutation of personality in passion, or nobly reinforced by the intelli- gence and the will, it represents a series of progressions. —Mary Austin, in Harper's Weekly. OESN’T this depend somewhat upon whom you marry? It is unquestionably in the nature of an achievement to get some girls, but after one is married is there much sense in ying that marriage is a series of progressions? Is it not more a series of compromises? From a man’s standpoint a successful marriage depends largely upon what he learns to refrain from saying to his wife. As in all great arts, it is the knowledge of what to omit that counts more in married life than anything else. This does not appear to us to be so much an achievement as a matter of defenses and entrenchments, for one’s wife in these circumstances need not be necessarily regarded as the enemy? She is a person to whom, as you grow older with her, you learn to be increasingly polite, and for whom your affection is expressed by assuming that, in spite of your own weaknesses, she will still continue to look upon you as an equal, so long as you are able to direct the conversation in the right If a King’s Doctor told you to take Sanatogen— you would be impressed—for you know that a King’s Doctor must be a man of highest professional standing You would take San- atogen feeling confident that it would do the things promised; give you fresh vigor, fortify your system as no other tonic could. Now it is a fact that the private physicians to seven Emperors and Kings, after personal observation of its effects, have endorsed San- atogen in writing. (See, for instance, the accompanying letters of Dr. Ott and Dr Kuhn.) channels. There are doubtless qualities and traits about every one’s wife that one would wish otherwise. The experi- enced and successful husband is the man who has not only learned to avoid emphasizing these defects, but to for- get them. One of the fundamental causes of the increasing number of divorces is because the woman is trying to make over the man to something that she thinks he ought to be, or conversely, the man is trying to do the same thing to the woman, Women are, at the SEXOLOGY (Ulstrated) by William H. Walling, A. AT, M. D.. imparts in a clear lesome way. in one volume: Koowledge a Yours Koon So you see a King’s physician might recom- mend Sanatogen to you, if you could consult him deed there are over 19,000 practising who would tell ou to take Sanatogen, because they all have written us of its wonderfully beneficent effect, of its power to strengthen the nerves, to help digestion, enrich the blood and gen- erally uplift the system in a natural, lasting manner. Such are the credentials of Sanatogen—they should, they must convince you that Sanatogen has a service to perform in your case. Sanatogen is sold by good druggists everywhere in three sizes from'$1.00 up. Grand Prize International Congress of Medicine London, 1913 19,000 for Elbert Habbard’s new book—‘‘Health in the Making. filled with his shrewd philosophy together with capital advice on S Tear this off as a reminder to address THE BAUE atogen, health and contentment. CHEMICAL CO., 24 Dr. Conrad Kuhn, Bh Rmpore ot PHYS Written in his attractive manner and It 1s free 2 Irving Place, New York present time, probably doing more of this than men, because women now are generally on the rampage and bent on making everything over, including their husbands. This is the sort of achieve- ment that is fatal in the long run. Successful married life, on the other The Leading Expert and Instructor in NEW MODERN DANCING in New York City, writes: “Dear Sir:—I have used ALLEN'S FOOT- EASE, the antiseptic powder to be shaken into the shoes, for the past ten years, and say from experience that it is a blessing to all who Jare compelled to he constantly on their feet. dance eight or ten hours daily, and find that | ALLEN'S FOOT-EASE keeps my feet cool and |comfortable, takes the friction from the shoe, prevents corns and Sore, Aching feet. I recom- mend it to all my pupils. (Signed) E. FLETCHER HALLAMORE. Sample mailed FRE Address Allen S. Olmsted, Le Roy, N. hand, really consists of skillful inani- tion. No man ought to try to change his wife too much. No woman ought to try to change her husband. “ Let Well Enough Alone” is as good a motto as “ Home Sweet Home”. of thenew Instructive, Technical Auto Magati EAS iomrated pase of raleable Information. furrt¥R, co Betler Ba. Cincianatl, 0, FA CHAUFFEURS-OWNERS-BEGINNERS S22 FREE THE AMERICAN CHAU! Who can think of WANTED—AN IDEA S22 sy h0h ct to paenel, Protect your ea, thet ty bring you wenlth. Write for” Needed Inventions a How to Get Foes Patent ane RANDOLPH & CO 128 Wasblogion, D.C. comicbooks.com