Life — December 28, 1922 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This December 28, 1922 *Life* cover illustrates "All Aboard for 1923"—a New Year's themed cartoon. The large wagon marked "A.D. 1923" represents the approaching year, driven by a figure in a top hat. Passengers boarding include well-dressed men in formal attire and top hats, suggesting prominent citizens or politicians embarking on 1923's journey. The miniature scene atop the wagon depicts figures on horseback, possibly referencing contemporary political or social events of late 1922, though the specific reference is unclear from the image alone. The satire humorously presents the new year as a vehicle carrying America's establishment figures forward. The artist Edward Penfield's signature appears at bottom. The cover's cheerful tone suggests optimism about the coming year.