Life, 1924-08-14 · page 6 of 36
Life — August 14, 1924 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**R.I.P. Section:** This is a satirical obituary-style listing of vanishing American cultural items and phenomena—from "Foxy Grandpa" comics to the "Battle of the Century" boxing match. It mourns the passing of distinctive American institutions and entertainments, suggesting rapid cultural change. **"These Americans" Essay:** The piece critiques American regionalism, using a West Virginia railroad dispute as its example. It argues that Americans have strong local loyalties (knowing regional details like football rivalries, travel routes) but weak national consciousness. The author suggests this parochialism is both admirable and limiting. **Cartoon ("The First Loud Speaker"):** A humorous domestic scene where a woman interrogates her husband Adam about his nighttime whereabouts, introducing the concept of "loud speakers"—likely early public address or radio technology disrupting private life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE - R. 1. P. THE full dinner pail...pyrography...Foxy Grandpa... “Go way back and sit down”...the Keeley Cure...peg top pants...“How’'d you like to be the iceman?”...The Big Stick...Boni de Castellane...the Borden Case. ..celluloid collars...the man who ran for Vice-President on the Demo- cratic ticket in 1872...Langley’s Folly...“Wouldn’t that jar you?”... Automobubbles...the original six chorus men in the odora sextette...free silver...The Four Hundred... pug dogs...The Yellow Kid...“The Great Train shoe-lace watch fobs...Nellie Bly...“Biggest in the City—Sc”...the straight front and the saddle back. jig-saw puzzles...Nan Patterson. ..“23—Skidoo”.. .spark- ing...the Vanderbilt Cup.... Billikens...“Meet me in St. Louis, Loui: “The Battle of the Century”...Anna Held’s milk baths...tandem_ bi- cycles... Votes for Women...dens...“Get a horse”... free lunch...stereoscopes...Fauntleroy — curls...“The — Black Crook archery tournaments...Anthony Comstock.... The winner of the 1902 World's Championship in Ping Pong... .cotillions...red_ plush...“The Wizard of Oz”... sheath skirts...cast-iron deer Where the chicken got the axe”...souvenir seashells...“Not on your tin-type” “After the Ball”...panoramas...The — Trusts there!"...the Seven Sutherland Sisters. ..“Wilson: All"... .sleeve garters...Carrie Nation...stcel engravings... “Ta-ra-ra, Boom-de-Ay”...wax flowers...Sunny Jim... “Danderine grew this hair and we can prove it”...hobble skirts...“East Lynne”...Consuelo Vanderbilt's trousseau. . . “It's raining in London”...cigarette pictures...“The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous”... .scorching...waistlines. . Buster Brown...Merry Widow hats...dudes.. .licorice whips...Pope Toledos...Dorando...cozy corners. . .the barn dance...Puck,..Hetty Green...Pittsburgh stogie: crayon enlargements yes, We Have No Bananas”... THE KIND OF A CURL THAT MEN FORGET These Americans . The West Virginian The New Version E cannot understand how anybody can joke about the “ARE you going to invite George to your dance?” B. & O. Railroad. It is a serious matter to him. “Heavens, no! He always puts a dry blanket on He is an easy-going, neighborly sort of fellow, although everything.” he is likely to be irritated if some person he does not know very well starts shooting at him from behind a snake fence. He does not object to Prohibition, but he may be pretty mad if they ever introduce it into his state. WHERE HAVE He thinks the day of the annual football game between I You BEEN ALL West Virginia University and Washington and Jefferson ; NIGHT ? College ought to be a national holiday. He knows how to get from Parkersburg to Morgantown without using a dog team. He does not say, “If Davis is elected.” He says, “When Davis is elected.” McCready Huston. Fingers of Clay HAVE a friend. He is a wonderful man. His mind is an unfathomable brilliancy. His words are beautiful, resonant symbols of great, original thoughts. Until to-day I considered him a strayed god. To-day he carefully read a fresh-paint sign, tenderly touched the paint, and said: “By Jove! It is fresh, isn’t it?” THE FIRST LOUD SPEAKER comicbooks.com.