Life, 1927-07-21 · page 8 of 38
Life — July 21, 1927 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features satirical illustrations by an artist (signature appears present) depicting women performing equestrian stunts on horseback, labeled "Styles and Stiles." The accompanying text mocks the fashion and athleticism of horseback riding, particularly women's participation in what appears to be circus or exhibition-style riding. The humor targets the contrast between feminine fashion ideals ("modern maiden's smile," "lightly vaults") and the physical demands and dangers of these stunts. References to "ruffles, hoops and farthingales" suggest the impracticality of Victorian-era women's clothing for such athletic pursuits. The Arthur Guiterman quote about using a hoopskirt as a parachute reinforces the absurdist satire about fashion limitations during adventurous activities. The overall message critiques the tension between constrictive women's fashion and emerging athletic independence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
FENCE provokes your modern —) maiden's smile; She lightly vaults and lights and lightly bounces "Twas not so light to flounce across a stile When style demanded crinolines and flounces. To manage ruffles, hoops and farthingales With due propriety was far from easy When there were steps to climb and shaky rails And when the atmosphere was slightly breezy A modest leap was hard to exe- cute: For though a hoopskirt full and wide-expanding Might serve as something like a parachute ‘i SN { It did not guarantee a perfect , \ V7 < landing. C ‘ty cé \ Iaithic. Guitemee comicbooks.com