Life, 1920-12-30 · page 24 of 39
Life — December 30, 1920 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes modern courtship and marriage through three interconnected sketches: **"Man Proposes"** mocks romantic rhetoric. Horace delivers flowery marriage proposals about Adelaide being his "shining star," then admits he's never loved anyone and never will—yet she accepts anyway. The satire targets the gap between romantic language and actual emotional commitment. **"His Helpmate"** presents a young woman who rejects her fiancé's assumption that she's too "aesthetic" for practical matters. She immediately pivots from romance to demanding decisions about furniture and automobiles, satirizing how quickly marriage becomes domestic negotiation. **The union servant joke** references post-WWI labor movement strength—even a cake-serving becomes a labor dispute because it's "non-union." **"New Year Resolutions"** lists a husband's pledges: accepting his wife's clothing expenses, not complaining about rent increases, funding vacations, letting her choose the car, and tolerating Prohibition without irritability. The overall satire targets the collision between romantic idealism and marital realities—the quick descent from passionate proposals to haggling over dressing tables and automobiles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1921 1 by one the years are slipping; Though be 9 ly some have run, Others have been far 2 grippir What will this have lost or 1 ? Man Proposes How He Thinks He Did It DELAIDE, darling, you must know that to me you are the only woman in the world. You are the shining star of my inspiration, the far goal of my suc- cess. My fortune lies in your hands, to make or mar. I love you, my Adelaide. Will you be my wife?” “Yes, Horace.” How He Did It “Adelaide, . . Adelaide, . . . I think you ought to know. . . . It seems to me that by this time you ought to see how I feel.” “ What is it, Horace?” “My inspiration, . . . my inspira- tion is that I've never been in love. I haven't loved anybody, ever, . . . Ade- laide, . . . and I never will. I promise you that.” “You promise me that you will never love anyone, Horace? That is odd.” “Not odd, Adelaide. I am like that. I am truc—true to my star. My shining star—to make or mar, Adelaide. Aren't you going to say anything? It’s up to you to—to say something, Adelaide “T understand! Yes, dear, I will marry you. OME. people are like money—easy to change, but hard to find His Helpmate “IT WONDER if you realize, dearest,” said the beautiful young girl who had been brought up with such tender care by her intelligent parents, “that, although we have now been engaged for weeks and are on the eve of getting married, we have not yet discussed and settled the business part.” “T do indeed, darlin, light of respectful ardor came into his cyes; “Dnt, assuming that those vulgar matters must de distasteful to one of your extraordinary zesthetic accomplishment avoided anything that “T appreciate your sheltering sc replied the young lover, as a new I have purposely ight disturb you.” itude more than I can say,” replied his beautiful companion, “but you have totally mis- understood my practical mind if you thought me unmindful of business. As I have just read in a charming hook on the domestic problem, we must face the hard facts of life together. Let me tell you what we must do.” “Go on, dearest. You interest me profoundly.” “ JAMES, YOU MAY SFRVE THE CAKE THAT I MADE FOR MR. PHILLIP’S BIRTHDAY, “SORKY, MADAM, BUT MY UNION FORRIDS MY SERVING A NON-UNION PRODUCT.” “We must settle at once whether we shall have a built-in sideboard or not, just where my dressing table and telephone shall be placed, and what color the new car papa is going to give me shall be painted. Also—” But her lover seized her and exclaimed: no more. Now my happiness is complete. With you by my side, we can face the financial future with perfect screnity. New Year Resolutions of a Modern Husband 'O finance his wife's change from wool back to silk stock- ings without comment, whenever it shall be required. inst the landlord when the rent To omit the usual tirade aga is raised, since it is non-essential To begin saving money for the summer vacation, so as to have enough to meet his life-insurance premium To let his wife select the new motor car peaceably. To endure Prohibition cheerfully, as a good citizen, and not allow the troubles encountered in obtaining liquor to make him irritable. comicbooks.com ist: in} ric hi