Life — July 23, 1914 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Obsolete Bustle" - Life Magazine, Page 135 The top cartoon satirizes a political rally or public gathering with the caption "HAIL, COLUMNIA, HAPPY LAND!" The figures appear to be politicians or public speakers at a podium, surrounded by citizens—likely mocking either a political movement or nationalist fervor of the era. The article discusses the bustle (a framework worn under women's skirts to create fullness at the back), predicting its return to fashion. It argues that modern women need less restrictive clothing because they travel more, exercise more, and occupy more physical space in contemporary life. The bottom cartoon shows a zebra encountering small children, with the caption "WHY, LILY! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU TILL YOU SMILED"—likely a joke about unfamiliar acquaintances or mistaken identity, though its specific reference remains unclear without additional context.