Life, 1920-05-13 · page 19 of 52
Life — May 13, 1920 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This dialogue-based cartoon satirizes male attitudes toward women's suffrage (voting rights). A young woman awaits news of a suffrage vote while her boyfriend repeatedly tries to seduce her. When suffrage wins, she's ecstatic—but refuses his advances, too excited about the political victory. The satire's point: the man claims to "understand women" yet completely misses that she cares more about gaining voting rights than romantic attention. He tries to capitalize on her joy by romanticizing their future together (no corruption, regulated prices, nice clothes), but she remains focused on the political triumph itself. The cartoon mocks men who patronize women or assume romance solves everything, while also satirizing the intensity of suffrage activists' commitment to the cause—suggesting their devotion to the vote surpasses even romantic interest. The accompanying illustrations about street improvements and a car reinforce themes of modern progress and changing social conditions.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LI The Man Who Understood Women hortly after eight o'clock at night in an American in a state that it is not essential to the story to 1 rather handsome girl of twenty-four, her face wing a measure of culture, is pacing the floor rapidly. ¢ door opens, and a young man enters. S 1 I cannot see you to-night. You must go awa way! Darling! Let me kiss you! 1 am too agitated. Do not disturb me. (She starts ly, fancying she hears a sound.) What's that? It may messenger. But no—it is nothing, G ¢ go! me! What is the matter? (muttering): It may come at any moment. Oh, this I cannot bear it. 1 cannot— cizing her): You must tell me. What is it?) Tell me thing. I demand it! 1 tell you 1 cannot—I must not even think, Go! Go! es him away.) (yrabbing her fiercely); Darling! I insist! It is some- g about the vote? What else could it be? Oh, oh! If we should not win! Ah! Ihave it! You expect the decision to-night. You uiting for it now. Control yourself—and kiss me! I cannot talk to you. You must go away. (The door ws, and a messenger appears. She rushes toward him, tears the paper he presents, and shouts with joy.) Aha! Hal \ha! ! See! We win! Yes, it’s true, it’s true! I can Suffrage has won. American women are free. Is it not lerful? Oh, T knew it would be that w We win! Aha! T can vote. I can— Darling (tries to ta his arms), kiss me. Sur I cannot! Go away! Me But T do not un- derstand. It is all over, isn’t it? You won! What more YEELINGS OF A MAN WHO HAS JUST ROUGHT A SECOND-MAND CAR is there to do? Come, come! Let me make love to you Sue: Oh, I cannot. I cannot. Iam too much excited over this glorious news He (putting his arm around her): Right! You are right! It is wonderful. A new era has dawned. Think of what we shall be able to do now. There will be no more corruption. The prices of everything will be regulated. Rents will come down. Idealism will flourish. What a home we shall have! Wonder ful, wonderful! I can see you in the most charming clothes— and hats— Sne: Go on! Go on! He: First, let me kiss you! Sue: Darling! Only once? Mexican Notes G =NERAL PULQUE, after a siege of four days, captured Popocatepetl. The State of Sonora has seceded from the other seceding States, which leaves the City of Mexico capital of itself. neral Bullcona was executed in the public square of Mon- terey for refusing to sign the bandit-exemption amendment to the new Villista Constitution. The vaults in the Mint in the Plaza de San Francisco y Montezuma los Porfirios were broken into by the Legalistas. and all the rifles stolen, The Mexican fleet of four house boats is safely anchored off STREET IMPROVEMENTS Vera Cruz, prepared for instantaneous bargain. comicbooks.com