Life, 1925-07-09 · page 31 of 42
Life — July 9, 1925 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical page traces changing musical fashions among young people. It mocks how each generation adopts different instruments as markers of style: - **College men** once played Swiss zithers - **The next generation** adopted Spanish mandolins and guitars - **California's "Hickman Whistle"** (likely referencing a popular musician) represented the latest fad - **Hawaiian ukuleles** arrived from Honolulu, becoming trendy The final panel's caption—"Let Us Hope That the Boys Won't Turn Next to Scotland for Inspiration"—expresses anxiety that young Americans might next embrace Scottish bagpipes, presented as a comically undesirable outcome. The humor targets generational musical trends and Americans' tendency to adopt exotic instruments as fashionable status symbols. It reflects 1920s-era concern about rapidly changing youth culture and foreign influences on American tastes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sees Music Down Through the Ages The College Chap in Days Gone by Played ‘ The Next Generation the Swiss Zither Twanged the Spanish Mandolin and Guitar Let Us Hope From Sunny That the Boys Won't Turn Next to California Came the Scotland for Inspiration Hickman Whistle From Even Sunnier Honolulu Came the Uke. comicbooks.com