Life — April 10, 1931 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The First Murder" - Life Magazine Page The top illustration depicts a prehistoric scene with an anthropomorphic insect or creature with a round body striking at early humans near a cave dwelling. The caption reads "California Musician: Boy, what a climate!" The accompanying story "The First Murder" by Parke Cummings is a humorous fictional account of how the first murder occurred among Neolithic cave dwellers—Flinthatcher and Borem—apparently triggered by a disagreement over cooking methods for mammoth meat and use of staffs as tools. It's presented as satirical pseudo-historical fiction. Below are three brief commentary sections titled "Didn't Work," "Works," and "Doesn't Work," containing unrelated social observations about 1930s New York taxicabs, famous people, and book reviewing practices.