Life, 1917-03-08 · page 9 of 42
Life — March 8, 1917 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks wealthy American society's obsession with debutantes—young women from rich families formally introduced to society. The accompanying sketch shows an elaborate social gathering where debutantes are displayed. The text humorously argues that debutantes should be "conserved" like an endangered crop, since millionaires increasingly marry them. It suggests that wealthy men are depleting the supply faster than it can be replenished, making debutante preservation "a matter of national importance." The satire targets the artificial, commodified nature of the debutante system, where young women serve primarily as marriage prospects for wealthy men. It critiques both the excess of millionaires and the treatment of debutantes as valuable social commodities requiring careful management and financial investment to maintain.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PROMINENT IN SOCIETY THE SPOT-LIGHT The Conservation of Débutantes HE débutante is usuially grown under glass, and during the winter months can be seen in great variety, ranging in color from pale pink to deep red. Some of the artificial varieties this year are very beautiful. They ‘are used at receptions, dances and weddings. Their preservation is a matter of national importance. It is true that this year the crop of debutantes is large, but our millionaires are constantly increasing and living to a greater age than ever. Millionaires at eighty are now not uncommon. Every mil- lionaire between the age of sixty and eighty is entitled to marry at least one débutante. It is therefore necessary that the supply of debutantes be kept up, otherwise the millionaires would all die prematurely. Débutantes serve other purposes besides mat millionaires. ing aj They appear regularly in the society maga- zines, where in half-tones they can be seen eating real food, walking up and down church aisles, sitting on fences, gathered about hydroplanes and spreading their petals at garden parties. If they should diminish in numbers, whole families of photographers would suffer, and many editors would have to fall back on, printing news of the day. Debutantes are raised in all climates, but it is generally agreed that the airs of Newport, upper Fifth Avenue and Palm Beach are best for their nurture. Some of the spe- cial varieties cost to raise all the way from fifty thousand dollars to one hundred thousand dollars. But a_ fairly good specimen can be had for about twenty thousand dol- lars. At one time it was thought necessary to give them special care, hut now the art of raising them consists largely in letting them alone, while spending money upon them constantly, comicbooks.com