Life, 1920-04-22 · page 10 of 44
Life — April 22, 1920 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story satirizes wealthy women's obsession with fur coats through dialogue between animals (a seal and bird) observing humans. The narrative mocks the justifications women use for wearing animal pelts—claiming they "improve" appearance or are "essential." The two illustrations show: (1) a well-dressed matron confronted by children about a dead seal's coat, and (2) a man at a doorway, apparently discussing the deferred-payment plan for acquiring furs. The satire targets Gilded Age consumerism and the disconnect between fashionable ladies and the animals killed for their vanity. By giving voice to the seal and bird questioning human "logic," Life ridicules both the practice and the rationalizations offered to justify it—a common early-20th-century critique of materialism and animal exploitation.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IFE- himself n accepta to an otherwise utiful world.” Od Creator didn’t think to give him feathers ¢ fur coats.” Oh, the Creator never thought of anything mar intended this one No more than to have my brother's only e« Well, then, let's tke them from her, Keg ul miserable matron med long Pardon, madame, the rol aas fallen off was the solicitous voice of the chauffeur. re-tucking wressiip Oh!—"" Hastily she felt for her disputed possession George,” she |.“ Vve had such a terrible dream : . “Yes, madame,” he murmured respectfully day NO PANKIN’ NEAK 4 PIKE HEU, MIATA saihier Warm... « Madanielssfae coat * George.” snapped the matron, “you mind your husi Furred and Feathered Heney WVilliain Haweman HEAVING a0 overstuffed sigh, the portly matron in the costly automobile wrapped the robe more closely about her and closed her eyes. F A feeling that someone was staring at her caused her to ryopen them into the unwavering gaze of a fur-bearing seal that had unaccountably settled down upon one of the auxiliary seats. “Ugh!" she shricked. “Go away, you horrid thing!” “Pardon the intrusion,” remarked the seal. “ Your coat It is undeniably the mortal remains of my dear brother And I must say, he looked a lot better in it than you do.” “Why, the idea! This coat was made for me : “| imagine it was originally made for him. Anyway, it fitted him hetter. “Indeed!” expostulated the matron. “It was a lot more useful to him,” continued the seal “It was his best, too. But he wasn't overly proud of it He didn't wear it for show, or fashion, or to set himself Yet, somehow, he couldn't do without it. He died for it.” The seal ruminatively scratched his nose with a front flipper. “How like my nd’s feathers!” A strange lird had added itself to the party “What about your husband's feathers?” asked the seal They're on her hat. Don't let's go into details. “| understand, my dear,” said the seal. “ Very sad; very sad, indeed.” “T wonder why it is,” mused the bird, “humans are for ever stripping us of our essential coverings to make super- ficial adornments for themselves.” “Judging from this specimen,” remarked the seal, “I should say it is because they are so terribly ugly. They must think it helps them. “T don't see that it improves them sufficiently to war- an ¢ sacr sai e bird ry . ¢ MENTS EXTEND OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.” jealous of our natural beauty. Since the beginning of 4y UNDERSTAND: PARFECTLY., {36 PAVING POR A WAR THAT things, he has destroyed us in a pitiful attempt to make Way Now.” Tagree with you. The fact is, my dear, man must be comicbooks.com