Life, 1915-04-08 · page 17 of 44
Life — April 8, 1915 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks the early 20th-century women's suffrage movement by imagining a suffragist mother subjecting a suitor to absurd "scientific" scrutiny. The joke: A young man seeking to marry a suffragist's daughter must provide eugenic certificates, financial records, and pedigree documentation—the language of eugenics and scientific management applied to courtship. The suffragist mother examines him like a specimen, checking his "eugenic certificate" and having him walk "easily and naturally" as if evaluating breeding stock. The punchline lampoons both suffragists and contemporary eugenic pseudoscience: the rational, demanding suffragist mother—presented as domineering and emasculating—ultimately decides to marry the young man herself, undercutting the daughter's autonomy the mother supposedly champions. The accompanying illustration "A Week End Party" shows carefree socialites, contrasting with the cartoon's mockery of serious-minded suffragists as humorless, controlling figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Pnme Article E was gotten up regardless, as he walked into the private office of the leading woman suffragist. Bowing and placing his hand on his heart, he said, earnestly: “Madam, I have come to ask from you the hand of your fair daughter. She tells me that she has the right to accept me without your consent, but we both feel that as a matter of courtesy to you your blessing should be ob- tained.” “Have you your cate?” “Right here, madam. will find it correct’ in ticular.” “And your financial rating?” “These papers give a list of my holdings, together with my references from leading bankers.” “Ah, yes. And your pedigree?” eugenic certifi- Think you every par- LOVE IN A COTTAGE “Is in this chart. That red spot in the center, about half way along, is where Adam fell.” “Seems correct. Will you walk back and forth, easily and naturally, for a few moments?” “ Certainly, madam.” “Ah! That will do. And now, young man, you wish to have my de- cision?” “If you please.” “ My daughter has made the mistake of her life. She can never marry you.” “But why, madam?” “Well, if you must know, I've de- cided to take you myself.” ‘A WEEK END PARTY comichooks.