Life, 1917-02-01 · page 27 of 40
Life — February 1, 1917 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story mocks the commodification of morality in the Gilded Age. A woman tries to sell her soul to various representatives of society—a millionaire (concerned with reputation), a philosopher (who denies souls exist), and a businessman (who has no use for them). None value it. The satire's point: spirituality and morality have become literally worthless in modern commerce and intellectual life. The millionaire fears scandal, the philosopher denies metaphysical reality, and the businessman sees no profit. Only romantic love temporarily makes her forget her soul matters. The accompanying joke about fish-dealers painting gills red—mimicking women applying rouge—extends the theme: artifice and deception are now standard practice in business and society. This reflects Progressive Era concerns about materialism eroding traditional values.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Dmg on the Market HERE was once a beautiful young woman who wanted to sell her soul. She took it out one day and looked at it, and to her it seemed good; and so she placed it before a millionaire. “How much will you give me for this?” she said. The millionaire shook his head. “T should like to oblige you,” he replied, “but I have a great many calls upon my time. Besides, I have a reputa- tion for philanthropy to maintain, and if I should go into buying this sort of thing it would discredit me with the best people.” The woman took her soul to a philosopher. He examined it critically. “T can assure you,” he said, “that although it may seem real to you, it is an illusion. What you think is your soul is merely a sensation. If you will read my latest work you will understand the distinction which I make.” The woman, who was really quite deserving, then took her soul to a business man. “I am in great need,” she said. give me for this?” “T have enough women’s souls on hand at present,” he said, “but in case I should require another one I should “How much will you~ a THE FIRST FREE LUNCH be glad to take your name and consider your application in due course. Good morning.” It will be recalled that the woman was beautiful, and so it happened at this point that she was suddenly loved by a very respectable and worthy young man, who was able, by the way, to support her. So she laid her soul aside, for- getting it temporirily; but there came a day when she sai “Oh, my lover, there is one thing I had forgotten. You, whom I love and trust so much, are the only keeper for this precious thing. I want to give it into your hands where it will be perfectly safe.” Thereupon she took out her soul once more and placed it before him. He shook his head. “Much obliged, my dear,” he replied, “ but if you really think you will need it later on, you would much better keep it yourself. I’m sure I should mislay it. You see, that sort of thing is of no practical value to me.” “ LJOW do you suppose the New York fish-dealers ever happened to think of painting fish-gills red to make them look fresh?” “Probably from watching their wives apply the rouge in the morning.” comicbooks.com