Life, 1911-12-07 · page 46 of 112
Life — December 7, 1911 — page 46: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece commemorates Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial Exposition celebrating American independence. "Columbia" (female personification of America) is the speaker, describing how "Brother Jonathan" (the United States) arranged a celebratory fair to showcase the nation's scientific and industrial progress. The cartoon depicts Columbia at the exposition surrounded by admirers and dignitaries. The satire appears gentle—celebrating American achievement while perhaps gently mocking the self-congratulatory tone of the centennial festivities and the "self-satisfied adherents" basking in national pride. The artist (signed "Dike Custeny") uses the conceit of Columbia as memoir-writer reflecting on her century of existence, emphasizing technological advancement as proof of national success. This reflects the era's faith in progress and industrial development as measures of national greatness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
= Dike Custeny — MEMOIRS OF COLUMBIA HAVING BEEN THROUGH SO MUCE STRESS, THE COUNTRY THOUGHT I NEEDED SOME RELAXATION, AND, AS A RESULT, BROTHER JONATHAN (U. S.) ARRANGED A FETE FOR ME AT PHILADELPHIA IN 1876, IN HONOR OF THE CENTENARY OF MY ORIGIN, I HAD NOT REALIZED HOW MUCH HAD BEEN DONE IN THE WAY OF INVENTION AND PROGRESS UNTIL THE MOMENT WHEN I WAS ESCORTED THROUGH THE EXHIBITION AND SHOWN THE RECENT TRIUMPHS OF SCIENCE, AND RECEIVED THE ENCOMIUMS OF EUROPE, TOGETHER WITH THE SALUTATIONS OF MY SELF-SATISFIED ADHERENTS. . comicbook