Life — October 8, 1914 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 615 **Top Cartoons**: Two panels illustrate the caption "East Is East, and West Is West, and Never the Twain Shall Meet"—referencing Kipling's famous line about cultural divides. The left panel shows two figures relaxing under a palm tree on a tropical beach; the right depicts a figure at a graveyard. The satire appears to contrast leisure and mortality, possibly commenting on Eastern versus Western attitudes toward death or vacation culture. **"The Back-Seaters"**: A list mocking various groups attending Cook's tours and similar activities—eugenics enthusiasts, sexologists, militants, Republicans, Progressives, and professional humorists. This satirizes tourist culture and the eclectic mix of early 20th-century intellectuals and activists. **"Beauty and the War"**: The text argues that wartime chemical price increases make beauty products expensive, affecting women's ability to maintain appearance. This critiques how war economics impact civilian life, particularly women's access to cosmetics.