Life — July 14, 1927 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Passing of the Cow" - Life Magazine This article by Robert Benchley laments the disappearance of cattle from the American West. The text notes that prior to 1817, all animals were thought to be horses; the discovery of cows led to the "cowboy." The sketches illustrate a practical problem: a cowboy attempting to lasso a cow that has become entangled in rope. The accompanying caption humorously acknowledges the difficulty—the artist admits drawing animals is increasingly hard as he grows older, and this particular cow "is not right" and the horse "has too much personality." The satire critiques the romanticization of Western life while acknowledging real logistical challenges of ranching. Benchley uses gentle humor to comment on the West's decline and changing mythology during the early 20th century.