Life, 1915-02-04 · page 7 of 44
Life — February 4, 1915 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes wealthy New York society women during wartime (likely WWI era). The "Injustice" section mocks Miss Gotham, a society woman who claims she cannot raise money for war relief because she's been "sitting up until two o'clock for three nights now playing charity bridge"—suggesting her social activities are exhausting excuses for avoiding real charitable work. The "Chagrin" section quotes William complaining that "The foes do not fly" and he must "write a sharp letter to God"—likely mocking military incompetence or aristocratic entitlement. The two portrait illustrations contrast reality ("As the camera directs her and") with romanticized society portraiture ("As the popular society painter paints her"), critiquing the gap between wealthy women's actual behavior and their idealized public images.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Injustice “IT scems a pity, my dear Miss Gotham, that you New York society women don’t give up more of your time to raising money for the war sufferers.” “My dear Marjorie, how can you say such a thing? Haven't I sat up until two o'clock for three nights now playing charity bridge?” Chagrin SAD William: “’Tis certainly odd, When I give my imperial nod The foes do not fly, I cannot tell why; I must write a sharp letter to God.” AS THE CAMERA DEPICTS HER AND AS THE POPULAR SOCIETY PAINTER PAINTS HER