Life, 1919-06-12 · page 36 of 46
Life — June 12, 1919 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This sketch inverts the typical employer-employee power dynamic. A "Prospective Servant" (actually a wealthy employer seeking household help) interviews a "Prospective Employer" (a desperate job-seeker) for a domestic position. The satire mocks the unreasonable demands domestic servants faced: the employer demands the servant's husband live at the club, boards her son elsewhere, and has her daughter serve as a lady's maid—all while offering minimal time off and vague wages. The servant controls the entire interaction, treating the employer as an inferior applicant. The joke exposes how employers exploited domestic workers by reversing roles—making absurd demands seem ridiculous when directed at someone of higher social standing. The final line ("What a bore to have to associate with one's inferiors") underscores the class contempt underlying such employment relationships. This critiques the era's callous treatment of household staff around the early 20th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Hiring an Employer Scexe—Anywhere Time—Every day IST IVE SERVANT (gra- ciously) > Sit down, Prospective Emrtover (timidly): Thank you. (Sits on edge of chair Pause.) P.S.: You are looking for a posi- tion as employer? Yes. Have you any recommenda- tions? P. E.: A few. P.S.: Let me sce them. (Takes ree- ommendations and reads them with a dubious expression.) Humph! Here's one lady cook says you complained be- cause she used thirty-seven pounds of butter in aweek. However, I'd liketoask you a few questions. How old are you? I like young, cheerful people around me. Are you married? P.E.: Yes P. S.: Does your husband live at home? Part of the time. PB. Well, he'll have to live at the club, Any children? P. E.: Two—a boy and a girl. P. S.: You'll have to board the boy SPECIAL GROWLER COUPE al type adapted from the old Loudon Four Wheeler tom Department. The Lacomotate Company of Aeris, Held gepu outside, The girl can do my hair in the morning. How many nights out a do you want? E.: 1 should like Mondays and Thursdays, if not inconvenient. Mon- day we go to the theatre, and Thurs day — Poo. Monday is all right, but Thursday happens to be my night at the opera. How many lady helpers do you keep THE SHOCK PE. (apoloyetically) : Only Sut (quickly) you'll have entirely at your disposal, yor PLS. (dryly): Naturally “Where many rooms did you say For Ku ment had? In ove Po AR Seventeen, and f PoS.: We can have the smallest bath. We have to manage to get along with t you and sour bh To buyor Is rais other three, 1 suppose P.E. (eagerly): Then te on your coming? P.S.: Not so fast! What were yo expecting to pay for all that yo demanding ? PE. Oh—anything you think re sonable: PLS. We'll say th month, then, till 1 see how you suit me That is, if 1 decide to come, (Rising) ress wit hundred 2 Just leave your name and my secretary, and I'l have her notl you. (Rings bell.) Good day (Extn ettendant.) Show the next woman and dismiss the others. I can’t see 2 more employers to-day The aut (Looks at wns watch and yawns. Prospective * ployer off dejectedly.) Goodn ; ; What a bore to have to associate" ae r one’s inferiors in this way! mee William Wallace Whiteloc Comicbooks.com ordered at eleven