Life, 1922-10-26 · page 6 of 36
Life — October 26, 1922 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a satirical diary entry mocking middle-class domestic life and female leisure activities. The illustration shows a woman at a table with what appears to be a polishing device, watched by a man—likely depicting the tedious, trivial occupations that satirize women's daily concerns. The diary entries from October describe shopping for hats, observing neighbors through windows, fixing fingernails, and polishing a ring—activities presented as absurdly consuming women's attention and time. The text sardonically contrasts these trivial pursuits with weightier concerns like church attendance and proper morality. The satire targets Victorian-era domesticity, suggesting that women of leisure occupied themselves with superficial concerns while claiming moral superiority. It's social criticism of upper-middle-class women's constrained roles and the gap between their pretensions and actual activities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
October In a twitter this morn- 21st ing over the determi- nation to move to new lodgings. For when the servants did take the summer coverings off the furniture, our possessions looked shabbier than ever I saw them, and resolved me straightway to sell what we have and begin over again in other surroundings. But Lord! after talking to agents and tramping about town viewing what they had to offer, Shakespeare seemed infallible as to bearing the ills we have. And when I got home, our house did not look so shabby as earlier in the day, neither. . . . To the playhouse this evening to see “Loyalties,” wrote by John Galsworthy, the Englishman. A deft piece of work, and well enough acted, too. But on the way home I fell a-thinking of what it was all about, and greatly shocked to realize that it had taught me nothing except to be careful about whom I asked on house parties. Which I al- ready knew. And so, ruminating on this and that, to bed. October My cozen Amy, who is 22nd _—_ come from Watertown to (Lord’s Day) Visit us, did prate of go- ing to church before I had so much as looked at the cross- word puzzle, and I forced to accom- pany her, Sam having announced that he preferred to worship God in his out-door temple at Apawamis. The text was the injunction to con- sider the lilies of the field, and to take no thought as to what we shall eat, wear, etc., but so ill developed that my mind did keep reverting to the duck, which I feared cook would not do to the proper turn. Not a woman there, neither, with raiment costing less than three or four hun- dred dollars, and one in front of me with so skilful a drape that when she stood up for the Te Deum I sketched it on the leaf of my prayer-book, against giving it to my sewing- woman on the morrow. . . . Prom- ised this day to read aloud frequently to Mrs. Wilkins, whose physician has forbade her the use of her eyes. And I pray God she will let me choose the books, although she spoke meaningly of W. J. Locke’s latest tayle. October Awake betimes, with a 23rd depression which I could not rid myself of, and so to a milliner’s to buy a hat, inasmuch as a piece of headgear which | can- not afford does me more good at such times than any medicine. Bought a .fine one, too, of black felt and silver lace, more modish than it sounds, and at a cost of thirty-five dollars. And the vendeuse did s#ear to me that it was a Lewis model, albeit the label in the crown was that of her employer. . . . My husband, poor wretch, came in this evening very hot and merry, as if someone had been giving him hooch. At which I was troubled, but said nothing. And he did tell me that he had this day set- tled all that he lost on the recent series of balle games. But that it will cure him of his gaming tenden- cies I gravely doubt, for Lord! the man will bet on anything, as when Mr. Cartwright dropped a box of matches, he did lay five dollars that the number spilled was even. B. L. The Polishers IRCUMSTANCES hardly worth confiding, (Innocent, but very dull, as well) Find me temporarily residing In a small, respectable hotel. Here, as I pursue my daily labors, Here, as I would seek a night's repose, I am well aware of many neighbors And of many secrets they disclose. Since the windows of my neat but modest Chambers open on a little court, It is given me to hear the oddest Sounds that appertain to indoor sport. I can hear a fellow strop his razor, I can hear another curse his wife— Using epithets that might amaze her Were she not inured to such a life. In the window opposite is sitting, Rocking in a comfortable chair, One who, though the afternoon is flitting, All the afternoon is sitting there. Would you know the task she is pur- suing Which a three-hour vigilance en- tails? . What is she so diligently doing? She is fixing up her finger-nails! Evening draweth on, and still she lingers, Though the hour approacheth din- ner time, Spending much more time upon her fingers Than do I in polishing this rhyme; Well, and is my task the more idyllic, That I build between us such a wall? My work is trochaic—hers, dactylic— Is there such a difference, after all? Lady, ere thou gownest thee, and startest For thy arrayed, Pray forgive a blundering fellow- artist That he thought thee but an idle jade! Haply, were we poets better scholars, Thou couldst teach a profitable thing; My work may obtain me forty dol: lars— Thine may cop a high-priced dia- mond ring! dinner, gorgeously comicbooks.com Pe ee