Life, 1915-06-10 · page 16 of 48
Life — June 10, 1915 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical humor typical of early-20th-century Life magazine. The main cartoon depicts a melodramatic serial narrative (styled as chapters) about "Hon. Dorothy" and "Northbert Keenewaring." The plot parodies overwrought silent-film scenarios: Dorothy extracts Northbert's tooth to use as false "proof" of infidelity, forcing his wife to flee to Reno (then famous for quick divorces). The satire mocks both sensational divorce plots and broken English narration, likely parodying foreign film scenarios or poorly-written pulp fiction. The cartoonist (credited to Wallace Irwin via "Hashimura Togo") ridicules the absurdity of melodramatic storytelling where trivial events become "evidence" of moral transgression. Below are brief satirical advice pieces ("Purely Physical" and "To a Fat Woman") offering tongue-in-cheek social commentary on romantic conventions and body image—typical of Life's light, sarcastic tone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Togo, you should write scenario for emotion picture show” meanwhiles she hid two Jewish detectives under furniture.) — Hon. Northbert lay back amid pains while Hon. Dorothy strap him to chair. hold forcip to tooth, He explain “Garg!” but she brave, “ Northbert, I love you,” she resum, “before I make toothpull, accept to be mine.” “Rah!” he narrate. She pull. When yell is complete he look to her with glares. “Not only have you took me helplus, but you have pulled the wrong tooth!” he snagger while departing. Chapt VI Hon, Dorothy set lonesome in office. “Can nothing make him love me?” Despair enjoyed. Of finally she jump from inspiration. “I got his tooth for proof. This must cause divorce.” Chapt VII Hon. Dorothy call sce Mrs Keene- waring. “Go to Reno at oncely!” she report. “Your husband were alone with me in my office for 15 minutes. Here is his tooth for prove it. If that not sifficient, ask Cohen & Kelley, Jew- ish detectives who was there also alone.” Mrs Keenewaring elope by herself for Reno. Chapt VIII Northbert Keenewaring arrive .to dentistry office. Hon. Dorothy were waiting in wedding clothes. “ Brave little woman!” he pronounce, arming her to his clasp, “with your brain to help we can succeed in soap business!” Chapt IX This is not written, but could be if encouraged. Please print this book with imme- diate quickness and send advance pay- ment of 134$ on first book, because greedy desire for money make me to- tally without morals. Hoping you are the same Yours truly Hasuimvra Toco. (Per Wallace Irwin.) Purely Physical E looked at her searchingly. She met his eyes unflinchingly. His nerveless hands dropped at his side. Her face flushed. distraught. He moved in his chair restlessly. She smoothed back the hair from her forehead. They turned toward each other, actu- ated by a common impulse. He toyed with the ash tray. She sighed deeply. He folded his arms calmly. She drew herself up. And then—they entered the next chapter. She was plainly To a Fat Woman WR you are introduced to a total stranger, begin with the remark: “Tell me, do I look as fat as you think I am?” This will estab- lish your reputation for sincerity. Always weigh yourself in public, surrounded by as large an impromptu crowd as possible. It shows you have a good disposition and are not too proud. Some wealthy man might see, admire and marry you. Try all the new systems of Banting as they arise from day to day. Re- member that the world owes all these people a living and you are not any inconsiderate part of the world. comicbooks.com