Life, 1923-01-25 · page 8 of 36
Life — January 25, 1923 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces about health obsession in early 20th-century America. **"My Husband Says"** (left column) mocks the era's health fad literature. The narrator's husband criticizes her love of health-themed magazine covers and articles, complaining she's become obsessed with health advice—referencing products like "Prune Juice" and "Rubber Heels for Health." He argues that constantly pursuing health prevents actually *enjoying* life and pleasure. **"This Thing They Call Health"** (right column) presents a contrasting view: a Subway Rider defends health consciousness as worthwhile, despite the husband's dismissal. **The cartoon below** shows a domestic kitchen scene where a mother tells a child she decided *not* to kill the rooster for dinner, sparing it because the poor man doing the work has "such a hard day." This illustrates class consciousness and charity, satirizing working-class hardship. Together, the page satirizes period debates over health culture versus life enjoyment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
My Husband Says HAT he thinks the pictures on the magazine covers are lovely, too. There was a stunning one on The Ladics’ Psycho last month. It was an adorable svelte lady, with a heavenly light on her face like hap- She was such an inspiration that I read every word in the magazine. There were pages and pages of wonder- ful values advertised; and there was an article on Rhyth- mics. It said the exponents of Rhythmics become beauti- ful and happy. And that our bodies are lovely, flowing, articulate things; but our backs are unrhythmical. And we must put a floating, swirling melody on the victrola, and while the music thrills down our spines, we must liberate dull-blue balloons, and leap after them. It was just dear to read about; and I thought I'd love to try Rhythmics; for everyone wants to be beautiful and happy. It said we must imagine we are nature’s own nymphs and it told what to wear when we practiced. But my husband says that a notoriously refined Mayor, in a city in Massachusetts, sent Isadora Duncan out of town for less than that. And even if I am in the shelter of my own home, I had better wrap up warmly. He says you can never tell how far the strong arm of the law may reach. L. BwS. This Thing They Call Health 6 ETTER not do that,” suggested the Wise Old Bird, “It’s bad for your health.” Then me for it,” said the Veteran Subway Rider, “For months I've been looking for something that’s bad for my health. I’m so doggone sick of that word Health I'd like to see it kicked clean out of the language. “Only this morning I got into the subway feeling al- together normal and as healthy as any man could ask on a working day. “First thing I know I’m hanging on a strap under- neath a sign notifying me that there’s vigor and health in raisins. I move on a few straps and find I’m face to face with a poster about the health there is in somebocly’s Prune Juice. I do an about-face and bump into a bowl full of Dr. Whoosis’ Health Food. “Then when I get a seat and bury my face in the paper to get away from all that health talk, I read: Drink Milk for Health; Eat Yeast for Health; Eat Bread for Health; Wear Rubber Heels for Health. “Hell, I ain't interested in Health. What I want is Pleasure. And the unhealthier the pleasure is the more fun I get out of it. “Some day they are going to point to me as the un- healthiest man in America and the happiest. That's how I stand on this thing they call Health.” T. F, “Did you kill the rooster for to-morrow’s dinner?” “No, Ma, I went out there, but I thought it would be better if the poor fellow got a good night’s rest first "cause he’s got such a hard day before him to-morrow.” comicbooks.com