Life, 1917-05-03 · page 11 of 42
Life — May 3, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces: **Top cartoon:** Shows mounted riders (appearing to be wealthy or upper-class women) on horseback passing pedestrians. The caption mocks discussion of "birth control" at a Waldorf (an elite venue), with commentary that such talk makes the speaker "shudder"—satirizing conservative outrage over contraception discussion among the wealthy. **Bottom article "A Wicked Word":** Argues against the term "servant," proposing "help" assistants instead. The piece critiques how the word "servant" carries negative connotations, yet paradoxically argues housework deserves respect as skilled labor. It questions why employers control household spending and policy while servants (or "help") execute work without corresponding authority—a commentary on class hierarchy and labor relations in early 20th-century America. The small cartoon "A Rumor Has Reached Europe" appears unrelated satirical commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“| HEARD THE MOST FASCINATING TALK AT THE WALDORF THIS MORN ON BIRTH CONTROL.” “ILLUMINATING? “GRANDLY SO. NOW EVERY CHILD I SEE POSITIVELY MAKES ME SHUDDER.” A Wicked Word HY should the word “servant” cling so obstinately, when it is dead against the spirit of the times? A cer- tain woman has solved the servant problem in her house by renaming all her “help” assistants. And why not? A servant implies immediately something menial. It ought to be thoroughly advertised that housework is not a menial occupation, but one of the most practical arts in the world. A work that involves feeding a large proportion of the en- tire population, that has more influence upon character and habits of living among millions of people than any other individual item, can scarcely be said to be unimportant. Yet, in a free country, a name that implies servitude has been permitted to weaken its power. This ought not to be. “She assists me in cooking,” declared the woman referred to, speaking of her cook. The woman herself furnishes the money and the general policy. The cook supplements her. Why not? A RUMOR HAS REACHED EUROPE comicbooks.com