Life, 1919-08-28 · page 22 of 40
Life — August 28, 1919 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the commodification of American scenery and natural resources. The main article, "Scenic Beauty at Space Rates," mockingly argues that advertising billboards *improve* America's landscapes compared to Europe's "mere scenery" like the Alps. The satire is biting: the author suggests that America's true purpose is profit-making, not preservation, and fantasizes about covering the Grand Canyon and national parks with advertisements—even proposing commercials on water. The upper cartoon depicts wealthy tourists in a car, with the caption joking that their "social standing" is measured by debt to luxury shops, satirizing materialism masquerading as status. "The Pawnshop" poem below depicts economic desperation: people surrendering heirlooms and valuables to survive, exchanging "memories for gold." Together, these pieces critique both unchecked commercialism destroying nature and the economic hardship driving ordinary Americans to pawn their possessions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
364 Scenic Beauty at Space Rates "THERE are some very shortsighted views about the sacredness of scenery which have gained currency of late. They should be bitterly opposed by all those who cherish the hard- Jedness of America Some purists in the field of scenery berate us for allowing outdoor adver- tising; they say that the ride from New York to Philadelphia, for exam- ple, is a crime against nature. They get very excited ut their views, and tell you that in Europe there are no billboards flaunting themselves before the traveler in search of beauty How ridiculous! In Europe they merely have natural scenery, like the Alps or the Azure Coast. Thank the Lord, we are above mere scenery in America. Was not the great purpose behind the creation of all this scenery to create a source of profit? A ne, tive answer to this question would make life a mockery Our efforts to improve upon nature, sad to say ¢ only in the first stage of development. There are few wood- land paths or mountain peaks that would not be more beautiful if adorned with signs of the cigar to smoke or the underwear to keep you cool. We shall express our soul some day. Then the Grand Cafion will be the biggest display sheet in the world; and the traveler through our national parks will be relieved of the monotony of gazing on unadulterated scenery Every giant tree and hillside will tell him how to relieve a sour stomach And what a fortune awaits the man who will discover a way to advertise on water! ya “WITAT IS THEIR SOCIAL STANDIN| “OM, 1 GUESS THEY'RE THE REAL THING, THEY OWE MONEY TO ALL THE BEST SHOPS IN TOWN.” The Pawnshop N old violin, a glaring diamond ring, A copper kettle, bent and tarnishing, A dress-suit, and a lady's velvet gown, A meerschaum pipe, all colored deep and brown; A man behind a desk, with fox-like face, His underling who worked about the place A woman in a worn and faded shawl, Broke from her dreams and parted with her all; Then came my turn—my body must be fed And clothed and rested, though my spirit bled— I laid Her ring within the trellis old, And thus exchanged my memories for gold Miss Milwaukee: ATLANTIC City, GeoxcE! Floyd Meredith, comicbooks.