Life, 1918-02-28 · page 37 of 40
Life — February 28, 1918 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical advertisements treating marriageable women as automobiles. The main cartoon compares a daughter ("Marion Year-Round Model") to a car being sold by an automobile salesman, using automotive language: she has "performance," "power," makes a "gentle hum," and requires low "upkeep." The joke mocks 1920s dating culture and commercial advertising excess by literalizing the era's tendency to reduce women to commodities. "Marion" is marketed with specifications like "genuine hair top" and "right-hand drive," treating her as interchangeable merchandise rather than a person. The small cartoon at top shows a husband and wife with dishes, establishing domestic labor as the "product" being sold. This reflects satirical criticism of both consumerism and women's limited social roles during this period—they were expected to excel primarily as housekeepers and wives.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Pup: Sue's WASTING HER TIME! 1 GAVE THAT PLATE A THOROUGH CLEANING If We Advertised Our Mar- riageable Daughters (An Automobile Salesman's Effort) Marion Year-Round Model “The Girl of No Regrets” RE is just the girl for a man with a moderate income. Her per- formance in the kitchen exceeds the bounds of belief: she will take any pile of dishes on high. Then, too, she has an abundance of power for wash- ing and ironing. If desired to do so, she can be made to fly about the house on cleaning day at the rate of sixty miles an hour! Besides having a wonderful flexibility of disposition, Marion is a truly silent girl—a low, gentle hum being the only sound she makes while setting the table. Fur- therthore, she is dependable at all Umeszithe unexpectedsrrival iof com: A story of adventure that bursts all bounds, pany will never stop her. Her body and love that overcomes space. By John Ames Mitchell, the author of “Amos Judd’ and “The Pines of Lory,” etc., etc. Published by Stokes. Sent upon receipt of $1.50 by Life Publishing Company, 17 West 31st Street, New York City. “ The diamonds are there, and plenty of then” The treasures of the moon and the little people of Mars draw closer to the earth in he BIL TM ORE lines are simple yet graceful—con- Specifications: Blue eyes, red lips, noisseurs have called her “the most milk-white skin, twenty-four-inch waist- Where the social life beautiful girl in America.” Just the line, right-hand drive, genuine hair top, of New York centers girl you would be proud of on the wrist watch, siren and extra attire by day and evening avenue or in congested traffic Her Full price: one solitaire ring. Beauti- cost of upkeep is astonishingly low. fully illustrated circular mailed. free Se In addition to all these splendid quali- on request; or call up and arrange for CLOSE ties, she has that rare inner virtue demonstration chat in our new and Gem TO ALL THEATRES | which seems only to improve with age luxuriously furnished reception room. AND SHOPS —Character! Marion will never go Address, David Dealswinger, The back on you! Gasoline Gables, Flivver Avenue. comicbooks.com