Life, 1915-11-18 · page 48 of 52
Life — November 18, 1915 — page 48: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This short story excerpt satirizes a common social hypocrisy of the era: the "Family Bully"—a man who tyrannizes his wife and children at home with stinginess and cruelty ("Don't let me see you," "Keep out of my sight"), then becomes a different person in public. The joke is the reversal: when tempted by male acquaintances to drink, gamble, and carouse late into the night, he suddenly invokes family duty and respectability. He refuses their invitations by claiming he must "go home and look after my family. If I don't they won't respect me." The irony is sharp: this man who shows his family no respect demands theirs through control and deprivation. The "worm turning" refers to his sudden assertion of domestic responsibility—but only to justify leaving his companions, not from genuine principle. It mocks men who abuse their authority at home while posturing as respectable family men in public.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Correct dressers every- where accept the Label as the mark of Fashion in men’s shirts. $1.50 to $7.50 At Haberdashers The Nek-ban-tab, an exclusive feature on Emery shirts, is a convenience in inserting collar button. W. M. Steppacher & Bro., Inc., Philadelphia THE NOVELIST GETS SOME LOCAL ATMOS- PHERE FOR HIS PITTSBURGH STORY Turning of the Worm Ee CaleyPrints HE Family Bully was a thick man, Pot ida Teo Now Seni atthe Minter Dinko with heavy lips and bushy eye- brows. He said to his wife: Ke Comey Color: Printa “Here, you! Here’s a dollar to last you to the end of the week, and | nia: Gechings if you have anything charged I don’t know about I'lI——' He said to his son: “Don’t let me see you, that’s all. Keep out of my sight. Don’t ask me for anything. Shift for yourself.” He said to his daughter: “Remember, this house is no camp- ing ground for a lot of idle young men. Your last year’s hat is good enough. I'll teach you how to be TWILIGHT AND POPPIES.—By C. C. Coleman good!” : ih Fe 8 fe : Is, wr Then he stalked out of the house ae enone Samia es sralle, these rhctares id: | could not Tier and met a man who said: _— TE Acar stoves, or sent on approval. : “Come on and have a drink. New and Complete Mastrated Catalogue practically a asd. He met another man who said: Goa of Armerionn Aru cost fee 5 coe Seco ct “ Quit I {fl Your old Family Portraits reproduced privately i the Copley Quit work and come to the bal B nan ee Fees hotorraghs, tntyres game. ; ete. "Particulars on request. He met another man who said: one 8 Cue ee “What's the matter with a dinner - at the club and a musical comedy?” Then he met another man who said: “It's only midnight. I'll give you your choice—a poker game or a joy ride.” Then the Family Bully rose up in Tigh faa keh ey his might and majesty and said: tbe Best Service or Your Shade Raers’” “Never! I've got to go home and signatre, f MUde fers abrars look fr Os look after my family. If I don’t they Stewart Hartshorn Co. * ” Dept. 30 E. Newark, N. J. Mad Vlathore won't respect me. N 150- “THe DAUGHTER Pays’ See the issue of Ainslee’s now on sale at all stands. As for the short stories in the same number, you know the Ainslee policy: ~ GOOD Stories by ANY Authors rather than ANY Stories by “Good” Authors AINSLEE’S “The Magazine That Entertains” comicbooks.com