Life, 1917-12-20 · page 30 of 40
Life — December 20, 1917 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks modern divorce culture through exaggerated naming and circumstance. The fictional Mrs. Iona Wadde (a pun on "Iona Lotta Kale"—suggesting she's after money) divorces G. Watter Wadde after just two years, already planning her next marriage. The satire emphasizes the absurdity through mock-serious details: the ceremony includes two of her *former* husbands, Mr. Wadde is already paying alimony to three ex-wives, and they receive 1,000 congratulatory telegrams for their divorce. The joke targets the casualness of divorce and serial marriage among the wealthy elite. Character names are deliberately ridiculous ("Bishop Proudfoot," "Rev. Catchpenny," attorney "Briefly Tort") to underscore the frivolity. The top puzzle invites readers to identify a woman selling Red Cross kisses—likely a contemporary fundraising event—suggesting war charity coexists with moral laxity among the privileged.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PUZZLE FIND THE FIANCE OF THE LADY WHO IS SELLING KISSES FOR THE RED CROSS What We May Come To HE divorce of Iona Wadde (Iona Lotta Kale) and G. Watter Wadde was solemnized at high noon yes- terday in St. Midas’s Church by Bishop Proudfoot, assisted by the Rev. Courtleigh Catchpenny. The church was filled with a large and distinguished gathering, among whom were two former hus- bands of Mrs. Wadde, and a number of ladies, single and married, with whom Mr. Wadde’s name has been coupled during the past few months. The church was beautifully decorated with meadow-rue and love-lies-bleeding. At the organ was Ignace Nimblefinger, whose musical program was one of rare excellence. Prior to the ceremony he rendered Straus’s “Discord in B Flat,” the “Anvil Chorus” from “ Tannhauser,” and “I Wonder Who's Kiss- ing Her Now.” Mrs. Wadde, charmingly attired in a low-necked morn- ing gown with transparent shoulder straps and a vacant back, swept down the aisle on the arm of her attorney, Briefly Tort, to the strains of Rubelssohn’s “Divorce March.” Mr. Wadde was attended by his brother, Titus Wadde, who has been divorced six times. The divorcée was taken away from Mr. Wadde by Rollin Kale, her father. After the ceremony a reception was held at the Kale home, to which were invited all persons who had presented Mr. and Mrs. Wadde with gifts on the occasion of their marriage two years ago. Mrs. Wadde will resume her maiden name, and expects to rest for a month or two before taking any further matrimonial steps. Mr. Wadde is noncommittal regarding his plans, as he is already paying alimony to three former wives. Mr. and Mrs. Wadde received over one thousand telegrams of congratulation, both of them being widely known, Crucifixion 'HE German tendency to crucifixion is a curious hark- back. They. showed it in various instances in Belgium and Northern France, and the Austrians or Germans have been at it again in their advance on Italy. Crucifixion is imperishably associated with the effort of Evil to overcome Good; of Force to beat down Faith. In this war, too, it is true to its ancient tradition. Good Training OKUS. So he’s in the diplomatic service, ech? Well, he is eminently fitted for it. Pokus: How so? “He used to be stage manager of an amateur dramatic club.” comicbooks