Life — June 28, 1929 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Page Analysis: "Life" Magazine, Page 5 This page contains humorous observations about modern city life by Tom Sims, accompanied by satirical illustrations. The main cartoon depicts a hot air balloon landing near a woman and child, with the caption "Lower come back to me!" The satire appears to target the novelty and impracticality of early aviation as transportation—a wealthy person escaping by balloon while leaving behind dependents. Sims's accompanying commentary mocks various urban inconveniences: flagpole-sitters hiding behind women's skirts, filling-station owners blaming tourists for road conditions, cabbage cooking odors in apartment buildings, and bathing suits looking unflattering compared to overcoats. The "Crying Necessities" list humorously catalogs items required for emotional display in polite society—handkerchief, mirror, rouge, powder, and "a shoulder" to cry on. The overall tone satirizes urban pretension and modern social affectations.