Life, 1917-04-26 · page 81 of 84
Life — April 26, 1917 — page 81: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes early 20th-century feminist activism and suffrage debates. The main cartoon mocks women's political organizing by depicting competing female factions—"Anti-Love," "Highbrow," "Touch-Me-Not," and "Clinging-Vine" parties—unable to agree on anything substantive. The joke: when a handsome male chairman is brought in, all factions instantly unite and dissolve themselves "into One Woman" to marry him. The satire suggests that despite women's political aspirations and rhetoric about independence, their ultimate goal remains matrimony and male approval. The cartoon ridicules both suffragists' organizational efforts and implies women's political engagement is superficial—a common anti-suffrage trope. The "Unsung Heroes" heading sarcastically refers to the father who got multiple children from one set of tires, inverting the expected heroism. The page's advertisements (Delatone hair removal, San-Tox cosmetics) reinforce the underlying message: women should focus on beauty and appearance rather than politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UNSUNG HEROES THE FATHER OF TWINS AND TRIPLETS WHO HAS GOTTEN THREE THOUSAND MILES OUT OF THE ORIGINAL SET OF TIRES. contemplative,” declared the Anti-Love party, A committee consisting of three mem- bers from each of the opposing parties was at last appointed, with power to act, to select a man. At last they brought onc in, He looked considerably scared at first, especially when his eyes fell upon the Anti-Love members, But when he turned to the other side of the cham- ber his eye brightened. “Ladies,” he stammered, as he rapped for order, “ what can I do for you?” The leader of the Tacts arose. “Mr. Chairman, I think I can state our difficulty. Up to the present mo- ment, although we have tried the experi- ment constantly, we have never been able to agree about anything. We really wish to accomplish something. It's for you to say how we can do it.” The Chairman, who was rather good looking, got up. There was a look in his eye that meant business. Every mem- her there, Highbrow, Touch-Me-Not and Clinging-Vine, somehow knew their day had come. DELATONE Removes Hair or Fuzz from Face, Neck or Arms TONE js an oli and well-known scientific prepa: jon, 1n powder form, for the quick, safe and cei oval of hairy growths—no matter how thick stubborn they may. make a paste by mixing & tle Delatone and water, then spread on the hairy surface. After two of three minutes, rub off the paste and the hairs will be Foe. When the shia is washed. It will be found clean, 6 —as emiooth as a baby's. Delatane is vand by thoomands Sear, and le highly recommended hy beauty authorities aad experts original mennce’ far will be matied to any adress upon receipt ef One Dollar by The Sheffield Pharmacal Company 339 So, Wabash Ave., Dept. D. F., Chicago, Illinois Pe Purity Spirit in SanSox A Bese may be greater discoveries than that of toilet purity for the skin, but there are few more pleasant ones. What a pleasure it is to discover the San- Tox nurse-face smiling from a San-Tox toilet purity for the first time! How grateful the skin feels for the smoothness and the rest- fulness you give it. Is there a masculine face that knows San-Tox Shaving Cream that does not thank it for the shave-easing, skin- soothing quality of its lather? Is therea feminine face to return your money that is not glad of the on any San-Tox pur youth-bringin§ bloom chase which is not the and skin-healthfulness keenest satisfaction to of San-Tox ColdCream? xen. But then, each n-Tox druapist is a Well does the San-Tox Gruaaist carefully ap- druggist know that San- pointed. There is one, Tox purity. Well does only one, in each hesupportitbyhisoffer locality. The San-Tox preparational purities number 125 SAN-TOX FOR PURITY De Pree Chicago “Will someone move that this house be immediately resolved into One Wom- an?” he demanded. There was a blushing silence. Even the Antis appeared to be controlled. Finally a Clinging-Vine tendency, with faltering voice, arose and piped up: “T move that we be resolved into One Woman.” “IT second the motion,” said a Militant tendency on the other side, to the aston- ishment of everyone. The vote was carried by a rather hand some majority. “And now,” said the Chairman, look- ing intensely embarrassed, but still cour- ageous, “will that woman marry me?” There was a pause. “With the understanding, of course, that never again shall I attempt to con- trol this assembly,” he added. The ayes had it “I move we adjourn to a jeweler’s.” “Unanimously carried.” ‘comicbooks-com