Life, 1919-09-18 · page 30 of 48
Life — September 18, 1919 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1910s satirical piece mocks Professor R.L. Garner's actual scientific proposal that educated apes could solve the "servant problem"—the era's widespread domestic labor shortage caused by working-class women seeking better employment. The cartoon depicts an employment agency interview where Mrs. Waddleigh-Scadds seeks household help. The proprietress offers different ape "candidates": a small orangutan (nervous, breaks dishes), and a gorilla girl (strong but destructive, demanding three raw chickens and five banana bunches daily). **The satire's targets:** - Pseudo-scientific racism linking apes to human labor classes - The desperation of wealthy employers facing servant shortages as women gained independence - The absurdity of treating workers as animals rather than humans deserving wages and dignity The joke lands when Mrs. Waddleigh-Scadds—faced with either nervous, destructive servants or unreasonable demands—decides to do her own work rather than hire at all, undercutting the "solution" premise entirely. It's biting social commentary wrapped in apparent absurdism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LEE - CETTING HIM OUT FROM UNDER The Solution Professor RK. L. Garner, recently returned from the French Congo, believes that apes, if given the advan- tage of modern education and environment, would develop into a race that would sow and reap and toil in the mill, In refined young lady apes the pro- fessor sees a solution of the servant problem. M S. WADDLEIGH-SCADDS entered the employment gency with hesitating step and ingratiating eye. The proprietress gazed at her coldly and threw an ink-eraser at a young lady ape in a green waist and orange skirt who was hanging from the wall-moulding with one hand and chattering angrily at a fly which had annoyed her. “Have you anything to-day in the line of a second maid?” asked Mrs. Waddleigh The proprietress spoke sharply to the young lady ape in the green waist and orange skirt.“ Millicent,” said she, “for goodness’ sake stop running around on the and behave like a lady, if you know how to!" Thoroughly cowed, the young lady ape dropped to the floor. “Well,” said the proprietress, eying Mrs. Waddleigh- Scadds doubtfully, “I have two that might do for you. One is rather small, but she is very: skilful at hanging from the chandelier and attending to the wants of the diners while thus hanging. dollars a week.” Mrs. Waddleigh-Scadds shook her head decisively. “If she is small, she must be an orang-outang,” said she, “and I don’t like orang-outangs. They cadds. You could get her for twelve © very nervous, and I have had some untrained ones who thought nothing of breaking two dozen plates in a day.” “That is true.” admitted the proprietress.” “ They are great plate-breakers; but they are very agile. She can clear off a five seconds. “T don’t want her,” said Mrs. Waddleigh-Scadds. “ What else have you?” “The only other is a very capable gorilla girl,” said the proprietress. “ She is steady and sure, and extremely good- dinner-table set for twelve people in seventy- PROPAGATING PUTTING A STING INTO IT natured, unless she is crossed. She is quite strong, and can run up and down stairs with a piano on her hack.” “How much does she ask?” “ Sixty dollars a month,” replied the proprictress. * and yoa must guarantee to provide her with three raw chickens and five bunches of bananas every day. She is a hearty feeder.” “She sounds quite good,” said Mrs. Waddleigh-Scadds, “Has she references?” “Well, no,” said the proprietress. “ She worked for the Elmer D. Pinchitts for the past three years, and when the Pinchitts went to California for the winter they laid Try- phosa off without pay. Tryphosa was so annoyed that she tore the balustrade from the front staircase, picked the kitchen stove to pieces and threw the bathtub through the side of the house. So she came away without references; but T can answer for her.” Mrs. Waddleigh-Scadds sighed deeply very much,” said she. “Thank you “Now that I think it over more carefully, | think I can do my own work for a few weeks longer. My feet hurt dreadfully, but I hardly think it's worth while getting a girl with vac: -time so near.” iously, Mrs. Waddleigh-Scadds withdrew in a dignified manner, while the proprietress, with a con- temptuous toss of her head, prepared to drag Millicent from beneath the rug. Kenneth L. Roberts. WHEN EVE BECAME A WIDOW comicbooks.cor