Life — February 17, 1921 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Southern Climates" by Gluyas Williams This humorous article satirizes wealthy Northern tourists wintering in the South, particularly Florida. The cartoons mock the pretense and exaggeration surrounding Southern resort destinations. The jokes target: - **Climate boasting**: Northerners arriving expecting perfect weather but encountering cold snaps (the article mentions Cedar Springs residents keeping thermometers below sixty degrees to shame visitors) - **Social posturing**: References to specific resorts like Coconut Beach and the Royal Palmetto, where guests compete to display their wealth - **Character types**: Miss Phoebe Armstrong and Miss Alicia Byrd appear to represent the stereotypical wealthy winter visitor concerned with status and climate statistics The bottom cartoon depicts what appears to be resort guests in wicker chairs, suggesting the idle leisure lifestyle. The satire emphasizes how Southerners gleefully embarrass wealthy Northerners when promised warm weather fails to materialize.