Life, 1916-07-27 · page 5 of 32
Life — July 27, 1916 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon: "A Tale of Gross Ingratitude"** This depicts a domestic conflict between husband and wife over household staff management. The husband, returning home to find chaos and noise from their baby, discovers his wife has given the nurse a day off. He's furious she sacrificed social activities (golf, bridge party) to care for the child herself, viewing this as incompetence in "managing servants." **The Satire's Point:** The joke targets wealthy households' dependence on hired help and the husband's entitled expectation that his wife shouldn't personally handle childcare—that's servants' work. His indignation that she'd neglect her social obligations to mind her own child reflects early-20th-century upper-class attitudes about domestic labor and gender roles. **Secondary Cartoon: "Things That Never Were"** A brief companion piece mocking similar domestic absurdities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
atk S a7 GREAT AMERICANS J. MOHR BEVERIDGE, THE CREATOR OF SEVEN DISTINCT VARIETIES OF COCKTAIL A Tale of Gross Ingratitude (Or, why some people don't keep their servants) (Scene: A suburban home. Time, 630 P.M. Enter husband. He meets his wife at head of stairs. She glares at him.) USBAND: What's the matter? Wi Sh! I'm almost crazy! IT don't know when I've had such day! Now don’t make a noise! I've just gotten him to sleep. Husranp: Whom? Wr Why the baby, of course! Huspanp: = Where's the nurse? ave her a day off. (She fo tears.) Think of it! I've had to give up my golf this morning a wonderful putting contest—and I've had to give up a bridge party this af- ternoon, Huspanp (sav to the movies to-night? Wire (wildly): How can we? She Can't we go 143 won't be back from town until cleven o'clock. Hussaxn: T know, I know: I can see it all coming. The Kid will sleep soundly until about eight and then we won't be able to think for the rest of the evening. We're cooped up here! I simply can't stand it, to have my nerves shattered at home! It's bad enough at the office! I'm going out somewhere. Wire: And leave me alone! brute! Huspann (doggedly): Well, you don't know how to man; your ser- vants, anyway. What did you let the nurse off for, anyway? Wire: She said she hadn't been out since she came, two months ago, and she needed the rest. Huspann: Rest! Hal we pay her for? I like that! you one thing, right now! coming home to a worn out woman. Get another nurse! Don't be imposed upon, I'll stick it out to-night, but— Remember! (He strides off.) Wire (clasps her hands and moans to herself): He's right! I must have my fresh air and exercise in order to hold him! I never realized what an ungrateful creature that is! Huseann (coming back): don't get brash. Wire (smiling): Don't worry. I'll quictly engage another nurse first, and then—zip! out she goes. You What do I tell I'm not Now THINGS THAT NEVER WERE Hom YOU'D BETTER RUN OUT FOR A WHILE—1 FEEL THAT I'M GOING TO NOD comicbooks.com