Life, 1914-12-03 · page 61 of 92
Life — December 3, 1914 — page 61: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a domestic comedy satirizing turn-of-the-century marriage arrangements and women's control over household matters. A domineering wife casually dismisses her husband, arranging for him to meet a replacement wife (Mrs. Shotwell) while she hires a new husband for herself. The satire targets: - **Wife's cold efficiency**: She treats marriage transactions as mere household management, emotionless and practical - **Husband's passivity**: He meekly accepts dismissal until unexpectedly falling in love with Mrs. Shotwell - **Social hypocrisy**: The wife is outraged when her own husband experiences genuine emotion—the very thing she denied him The joke inverts expectations: the wife orchestrates a coldly transactional wife-swap, but her husband's sincere love disrupts her plans and exposes her emotional sterility. The mistletoe cartoon above reinforces the Christmas season irony of unexpected romance overcoming calculated arrangements.
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THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS Of course, I shall expect you to stay with me a couple of weeks or so until I get settled; I have just the man I want, and he will be able to come with me on the first.” Her husband had been standing while she spoke and listening with great attention. He naturally ap- peared somewhat flustered. “This is quite sudden,” he faltered. “Of course, if you don’t want me any longer, I shall have to look for an- other wife, but you've always treated me well, and at my time of life—” “T understand perfectly—don’t talk and excite yourself—you never could come to the point. Haven't I arranged everything for you?” “I might not care for—” “What! Mrs. Shotwell? = Non- sense! She’s a splendid woman! And she needs a man just like you—who has had a long experience. Come now, run around there.” “T suppose I ought to thank you for your kindness.” “That's all right, Henry. You have been faithful to me, and I sim- ply couldn't do anything else. Let me know the result as soon as you return.” A pleasant sense of her own ability to control what might have been under ordinary circumstances an em- harrassing situation filled Mrs, Sel- wind’s thoughts during the interval of her husband's absence, But at last, after what seemed an intermin- rip Gullit He: THIS D—D MISTLETOE 1S EVERY- were! able timé, he came back, tiptoeing into the room, after carefully closing the door. His face had completely changed, It was evident that his errand had been comforting. “You were gone longer than you should have been.” “Yes. The interview was satis- factory.” “What kept you so?” Mr. Selwind advanced toward his wife—now so soon to be parted from him, His voice was soft and sur- charged with a new emotion—some- thing he had never experienced before. “We are in love with each other!” he whispered. “In love!” exclaimed his wife. “I never heard of such a thing! Have you lost your senses?” “No, it is true; it was love at first sight.” “Why, such a thing never happens now. She is a young and sprightly girl. And you! You are past middle age. Impossible!” “Nevertheless, it is true—one of those rare cases, I suppose, that T used to read about; she pitied me, she said, at first, although she had never seen me. And our eyes met. Ah! You do not know what that means—you! who have never loved! By the way, couldn’t you get along without that two weeks’ notice?” Mrs. Selwind rose. Overcome with indignation, she could scarcely control comicbooks.com