Life, 1925-08-27 · page 33 of 36
Life — August 27, 1925 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical diary entries with advertisements and commentary on 1920s women's issues. **Mrs. Pep's Diary** is a serialized humor column mocking upper-class female concerns. The August 21st entry satirizes women's apathy toward substantive reform: the diarist notes that despite gaining voting rights, women remain indifferent to important matters like coffee quality and chocolate adulteration, proving "as apathetic as the men." **The cartoon image** (top right) shows a woman examining her reflection, captioned "What a whale of a difference just a few cents make"—likely advertising cosmetics or personal grooming products by emphasizing minor improvements in appearance. **Bottom section** continues the diary's satirical tone, mocking women's vanity and fashion cycles, particularly the anticipated return of restrictive corsets. The final "Unalluring" blurb jokes that ideal boudoir furniture would contain *nothing*—poking fun at decorative excess. The surrounding advertisements (investment advice, Harper's Magazine, leg-straightening devices) represent the magazine's commercial interests alongside its social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mrs. Pep’s Diary (Continued from page 11) satisfaction, so taken was I with its temperamental hem line. Lord! I do recall the days when women did stand for hours in order that the sempstress might get their skirts to hang even, whereas now a garment's rise and fall can give odds to that of the Dutch Republic. In the evening to the Gar- Gaieties, a merry entertainment, th burlesques on some of the Theatre Guild's hits as good as any I ever saw. Up betimes, and off on a August sin hunt for a decent brand 2Ist_ of coffee, having heard of in Canal Street. How anybody reared on good Mocha and Java can drink the stuff which has supplanted it in the market is beyond my compre- hension, nor can I grasp how house- wives will accept as genuine brands which do not smell like coffee whilst cooking. I did think when women got the vote they would attend to such utters as this and the prevention of from filling chocolates with colored flavors, but Lord! they have proven as apathetic as the men in some of the vital matters. I did find merchant to whom I had been directed, and entering a lift to descend joners the Orc cet eter e-e et e-ee-m ee oe Remove All Doubt EFORE investing your surplus funds take the precaution against loss by seeking the expert and conservative advice of your local or investment banker, who will gladly serve you. . Eliminate the Loss In Investments For, after all, good investment opportuni- ties predominate. Caution, Care, Investi- gation will reveal safe and profitable channels for your surplus funds. 0-0-0000 0-0 0-0 0-0-0288 OOOO OEE OOS OO ‘The Financial Article that appea: in the October issue of Harper's Magazine will help solve your in- vestment problems. Form the habit of reading the financial article in every issue. You will find them profitable. All advertisements care- fully censored. HARPER’S MAGAZINE 49 East 33rd Street, New York, BOW LEGS? Makes Trousers Hang Straight 1¢ Lege Rend In or Out Self Adjustable i | Qererecec erect ec eee ee cnet et eet em eerete. Metal Springs, T. GARTER Ci ‘NEW LONDON, NEW RAMP, difference just a few cents make from his shop, I was startled at my reflection in its looking-glass, my hat being at an angle and my nose agleam, and I did wonder as I do always after such a shock, How long have I been looking like this? vanity case which George Fowler did send me last Christmas in behalf of Mr. Colgate, finding, to my horror, that its little mirror had broken since last I opened it. But forasmuch as I do not know whether I or my servant he responsible, I am not going to greet any seven-years’ ill luck halfway. Home in time for luncheon, to which Merci Esmonde did come, telling me of the placid existence she has led since marrying and going to live in Brook- lyn, adding, to be strictly honest, I've read the “The Green Hat,” of course. ..-All the evening over the maga- zines, reading in one of them that the So out with the | corset is coming back. Whereupon I was minded of Antonio's “You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate its usual height,” etc., for I doubt if my sex, after so many years of liberty, will submit to a re- turn of imprisonment. Baird Leonard. Unalluring “Novetties for a woman's boudoir dresser,” we read in an advertisement, “include puff boxes, perfume bottles, picture frames and trays with filigree metal decorations.” But the ultimate novelty would be a woman's boudoir | dresser that contained none of these | things. comicbooks.com