Life, 1920-03-11 · page 8 of 40
Life — March 11, 1920 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece critiques the etiquette debate over whether men should remove their hats in crowded elevators when women are present. The article divides male riders into three camps: those who keep hats on (deemed impolite), those who remove them (seen as overly deferential), and those uncertain and fidgety about the choice. The accompanying illustration shows an elevator scene with a woman and man, humorously depicting the awkwardness. The text satirizes the obsessive concern with this minor social rule, suggesting it reflects broader anxieties about changing gender relations and masculine propriety in modern urban spaces. The author (Benjamin De Casseres) proposes a referendum on the issue, mocking the controversy as overwrought.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIF E® Elevators and Hats AYBE the “new era” (everybody seems to think one brand-new list of Muses The nine ladies are somehow worn out, and they are due for ‘a strike, or a “vacation” loaf at least. We have the Nine Wonders of the Modern World, so why not nine new Muses? Among the new Muses, when they knock at the door of the future, we hope there will be a Muse of Politeness. She is sadly needed. is a-bornin’) will give us a She should be a combination of Mrs. Grundy and Mrs. Lord Chesterfield. We hope she comes with ten or twelve commandments which it will be lése something or other to break. The most important thing she will have to issue a ukase about, and the first, we hope, is the matter of taking off hats in elevators on cold days when there are women present. It is one of the most important questions of the day. It has divided downtown New York, at least, into hiree camps—the men who will not take off their hats while going up in skyscrapers, those who do, and those who are “all up in the air” about the matter. Those who keep on their hats in elevators when women The Bride: OW, HOW t HATE TO LET YOU GO, DARLING, 1 SHAN'T SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL LUNCH TIME, The Groom: YoU MUST BE BRAVE, LITTLE WOMAN, NO MAT= TER WHAT HAPPENS, | SWEAR TO TELEPHONE AT ELEVEN, crowd in are made up of brave men and bald heads. The first contend that politeness in business elevators is “ bunk.” What has chivalry to do with elevators? The bald heads fear the drafts, and although they will chance a cold wit doffed headgear to the third floor, they feel pneumc stares them in the face if they should reach the forti story with an exposed bean. The young men and the chivalrously inclined always remove their hats, but “Is it sincere?” bawl the hats-on! squad with their eyes. We have seen venturesome heads travel miles in elevators every day with their hats off, They are brave gentlemen of an elder a The third camp are always in doubt. They look around furtively to find out what the rest of the males are doing in the car and keep putting their hats on and off with a nervous, fidgety motion. They are between moral courage and a sneeze. And what do the women think of this vital matter? Why not a referendum of the women of the country on the question ? Benjamin De Casseres. Reminder HE dinner, prepared by the hostess herself in honor of special guests, was excellent, and the maid-of-all-work who had been drilled in serving for the occasion was “letter perfect.” The hostess relaxed from her nerve strain. And then the maid-of-all-work brought in the dessert. She was wearing her hat and coat. comicbooks.com