Life, 1915-02-25 · page 16 of 44
Life — February 25, 1915 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate satirical pieces mocking women suffragettes and modern urban inconvenience. **"Confidential Guide to Woman Suffragettes"** (top section) stereotypes female activists into six caricatured types—from the loudmouthed "Bold and Blatant" suffragette to the passive "Domestic Type" who merely parrots others' opinions. The satire dismisses women's political activism by reducing suffragists to shallow personality types rather than serious advocates. The accompanying illustration shows cartoonish figures dancing around a "Presidential Chair," mocking their aspirations to political power. **"New Name Suggested"** (right) sarcastically proposes renaming New York's new pay-as-you-enter streetcars "swear-as-you-try-to-get-out cars," critiquing their design as deliberately uncomfortable and crowded to maximize conductor revenue collection. It's an ironic jab at transit companies prioritizing profit over passenger comfort. The page reflects early 20th-century attitudes: dismissive humor toward women's suffrage and cynical commentary on corporate indifference to public welfare.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE MOVIES IN Confidential Guide to Woman Suffragettes 1G, Bold and Blatant. Speaks easily from platform. Talks for four hours on the stretch. Waves arms in air. Wears bristling bonnet. Proof against all heckling. Tron constitution. Refined Type. air. Modest demeanor. Innocent Loves to Has Soft, well-modulated voice. Clinging-vine attitude. go to jail. Writes letters unceasingly to friends. picture in all papers. Woman's Club Product. Dresses magnificently. A‘ litter. Never weighs less than one hundred and eighty pounds. Usually has ruddy face. Wears rats. Talking capacity, three hours and fifteen minutes. Never appears in public without paper to be read. Literary Professional. Quiet and unostentatious. Ex- pert on typewriter, One book every six months, usually characterized by other feminine reviewers as “epoch making”. Was once married. Just Plain Agitator, Stirs up everybody. Arranges public demonstrations. Always heads parades. Loves to carry flags. Talking capacity, nine hours and four minutes. Wears flannel shirtwaists, short skirts. No extra hair. Domestic Type. Mushy. Is satisfied to believe anything she reads because some one else has said it. Quotes “Rights of Property”. Talks in front of silent husband. Harmless. RS. SLIMSON: Look here, Bobbie, you haven't fed your chickens now for three days. Borate (proudly): My dear mother, how can I stay at home and feed chickens when I have been elected presi- dent of our Chautauqua circus? MEXICO New Name Suggested NSTEAD of calling the new surface cars in New York pay-as-you-enter cars, why not change the name to swear-as-you-try-to-get-out? These cars are designed to make one conductor do twice as much work as before, anid, in order that he may not miss any of the nickels con-ing from the public, he is placed at a strategic point, amply fortified and entrenched, while all the nations of the world are attempting to pass one another in front of him. It is possible that a still worse method of handling the public can be devised than this one. There are able minds still active in metropolitan transportation affairs. It is for them to devise another car which will cause more dis- comfort and crowding than this one. Can they do it? It's up to them, “PAINTING THE LILY”