Life, 1885-03-12 · page 7 of 16
Life — March 12, 1885 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page satirizes the "Pignapoke Culture Society," a fictional ladies' organization in Pignapoke, C.H. (Court House), through a letter from its president, Algernon McCump. The satire targets pretension: McCump claims his town rivals metropolitan centers in "culture," and boasts of having the only dry goods store and subscriber to *Life* magazine. The society's debates—whether ladies should wear bangs and high-shouldered dresses—are portrayed as trivial, provincial concerns presented with absurd gravity. The illustration shows a lecture demonstration on proper posture and fashion, mocking small-town attempts at sophistication. The humor lies in contrasting Pignapoke's genuine rusticity with its aspirations to New York-level cosmopolitanism, a common *Life* target during the Gilded Age.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LETTER THE FIRST. Edttor of LIFE: SiR— EING considerably in advance of my neighbors as re- gards culture, and having the only dry goods and | grocery store in this district, I am somewhat lookéd up to by the ladies as an authority on style. I believe Iam the only subscriber to your high-toned little journal in Pignapoke, C. H., and as such I take the liberty of writing you a short | account of the organization of our little Culture Society of which I am president. - LIFE: 147 Our first meeting was held at the school-house; Miss | Prudence Persymon and her charming niece, Lavinia Dodd, Miss Lucretia Chillinghart, Miss Ida Wasky and Mr. Bona- parte Spratt being present. The question of bangs for ladies was first discussed. Miss Persymon was opposed to them on principle. To her mind the double cascade of curls was the only suitable mode of coiffure for a young lady. But on a ballot bangs won the day, being carried by the vote of Mr. Bonaparte Spratt, he not daring to oppose a style in which the towering belle of the district, Miss Chillinghart, was interested. I then illustrated by designs upon the blackboard the proper mode of holding the arms while walking, the correct angle for the back, how to carry an umbrella, etc., ete, . Miss Chillinghart read a paper on high-shouldered dresses and promised to introduce them into the village before our next meeting if her pattern arrived in time. I suggested that Miss Persymon introduce the Mother Hubbard dress, but she positively and, to tell the truth, somewhat acrimoniously declined. We hope, Mr. Editor,;-by our own efforts and with the help of LIFE, to soon give Pignapoke, C. H. a Metropolitan air such as surrounds you in New York. Very respectfully, ALGERNON McCGumpP, President Pignapoke Culture Society. FIRST MEETING OF PIGNAPOKE CULTURE SOCIETY. comicbooks.com