Life, 1917-12-06 · page 58 of 92
Life — December 6, 1917 — page 58: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical story by Thomas L. Masson about hiring practices and corporate absurdity. A poor young woman named Beatrice walks into an insurance company with no qualifications except beauty. She's hired as president at $100,000 annually—purely for advertising value, as the directors explicitly state: "it isn't a question of ability." The satire escalates when rival insurance companies, hearing this, immediately hire beautiful women as their own presidents to compete. Soon, every insurance company in the country follows suit, having replaced capable leadership with attractive women. The accompanying cartoons illustrate the corporate logic: businessmen examining candidates based on physical appearance rather than competence. The joke exposes how companies prioritize marketing gimmicks (beauty as advertisement) over actual qualified management—a pointed critique of early 20th-century business practices and attitudes toward women in professional settings.
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LONE in a great city. Beatrice shivered, as she drew her sealskin sack closer around her, She had been in town twenty-four hours and had noth- ing todo. She had only twenty-five dol- lars left out of her slender allowance. A large insurance building loomed up at this moment in front of her. She hesitated for a moment and then en- tered. “Ts the president in?” she asked of the head office-boy, who was at that moment opening the safe and taking out a box of his private Havanas “He's resigned,” said the head office- boy gruffly. nd is there no one president?” Not now.” There was the usual pause that al- ways has to happen in the right place. “Could I be president?” asked Bea- trice timidly, It was the first favor that she had ever asked of anyone, and the color mounted rapidly to her checks. What are your qualification “Thave none. I am just a beautiful an see.” id the offi girl, as you Hum ing in voy. relax- “There may be ; will is manner. that. here be a Christmas Life At the Turn of the Pendulum ‘By Thomas L. Masson meeting of the directors in a few mo- ments. You might present your appli- cation then.” “TI shall do nothing of the sort!” replied Beatrice, haughtily. She real- ized instantly that her best chance for securing the position was to let them make the first advances. “I shall be in the corridor,” she said, “having my shoes polished. If the directors want me they can send a representative. All I desire is that it be known that I might be induced to take it.” The directors now began to file by, and thought well of Beatrice, as they saw her sitting there, with the bright color mantling her cheeks, “Gentlemen,” said the chairman, “the head office-boy has made a sug- gestion about our presidency, What do you think of that handsome girl sitting out there?” “We have tried every other form of advertising,” said one of the other directors. “Yes, every startling and unusual thing that we could think of. First, we had the tallest building in the world. Now, wouldn't it be talked about all over if we had one of the prettiest girls in the country as presi- dent? You know, it isn’t a question of ability. No insurance president has Critic: woe NYMPHS? ARE THEY SUPrusED He couldn't hold the po- sition if he had.” “ True, true.” In a few moments Beatrice had been approached, and by the time her shoes were polished had accepted the posi- tion of president at a salary of one any ability. hundred thousand a year. The president of the rival insurance company across the street heard the news with darkling brow. He knew he was doomed. Half an hour later he received word from his directors. “We are sorry,” the chairman wrote, “but we must not let any other company get ahead of us, otherwise our business would suffer. Fortu- nately, ten minutes after the change across the way we were enabled to se- cure a tall and stately brunette. We enclose six months’ salary, and wish you luck.” Other insurance companies rapidly followed, until in a short time every insurance company in the country had for its president a handsome young girl, As there was practically nothing but insurance companies, which, on ac- count of the number of different ways i getting killed in war, had multiplied idly, young girls began to grow with ble foresig! SPLENDID! Te WHAT K BE MADE oF ?