Life, 1916-05-25 · page 24 of 40
Life — May 25, 1916 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes America's adversarial divorce system through a dialogue between a "Man from Mars" and a "Patient Inquirer." The Martian, unfamiliar with divorce suits, asks naive questions that expose the system's absurdity. The satire's targets: divorce requires public scandal-mongering, hiring detectives to spy on spouses, inventing damaging stories, and engaging lawyers in bitter courtroom battles—all purportedly to "preserve the sanctity of the home." The Patient Inquirer notes the system also enriches newspapers (through salacious reporting), politicians (judicial positions), lawyers, and private detectives. The accompanying cartoons reinforce these critiques. One shows "Preparedness"—suggesting society prepares for divorce litigation like military warfare. Another depicts marital discord. The "Accomplished" section adds lighter domestic humor about marriage's mundane frustrations, contrasting with the legal system's melodrama above. The satire argues American divorce law creates unnecessary human misery while enriching professionals—a pointed critique of early 20th-century legal culture.
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Divorce Suits AS the Man from Mars and the Patient Inquirer were walking along the busy thoroughfare, they were importuned by a ragged little newshor to buy a yellow journal. “Very well,” said the Patient In- quirer as he handed the boy a penny “we shall see what is new in divorce suits.” “Divorce suits?” queried the Man from Mars with a puzzled look. “Yes. Don't you have divorce suits in Mars?” ver heard of them. What are they? “What a terrible country it must be it divorce suits.” | me about them,” urged the y," agreed the Patient In- quirer. “ When two people have been joined in wedlock and find that they are unhappy together, we do not allow them to separate quictly and_peace- fully. We force them to get into the nastiest kind of quarrel with each other. They have to go before a judge and tell the innermost secrets of their un- piness, and invent stories about 1h other, and hire detectives to spy ach other, and engage insulting rs to harry cach other, and un- less the case which either one succeeds in making out is sufficiently scandalous, the judge, in all his superabundant and superhuman majesty, refuses to give his sanction to their separation.” “aw! WOMEN HAS NO SENSE 0’ HUMOR” “What a mess it must be,” declared = me to introduce the custom on my the Man from Mars. “What purpose — planet?” asked the Martian. does it serve beyond adding to the “By all means,” replied the other. profits of salacious newspapers?” “You never will be unhappy till you “Oh,” said the Patient Inquir get it.” is one of the hackbones of our civiliza- tion. It preserves the sanctity of the Accomplished home. the indissolubility of the mar * Ps ANDALL: After twenty-five years of married life she loves her hus- hand as much as ever. “es, and she annoys him in riage tie, and domestic peace and tranquillity, It provides munificent judicial jobs for 3 politicians, contributes to the tL support of our most ethical io legal profession and creates a Sewn brisk demand for those most RS. SUBURBS: But, Jack, the ee valuable of all human phe- money that you are spending now nomena, private detec on that garden patch, we will need later PREPAREDNESS, “Would you then advise for vegetables! comicbooks.com