Life, 1929-08-16 · page 14 of 36
Life — August 16, 1929 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a satirical advice column from a father to his daughter about summer camp experiences. The illustration depicts a wedding or formal social gathering with well-dressed adults and children. The satire centers on class anxieties and parental expectations. The father boasts about his wife's expensive riding horse (seven thousand dollars distributed among three dude ranches), while cautioning his daughter not to be discouraged about her own modest accomplishments. He emphasizes "communing with Nature" as the camp's value, though he dismisses it as "not an extra"—suggesting wealthy parents view rustic experiences as necessary character-building despite their artificial nature. The cartoon mocks how affluent early-20th-century parents rationalized expensive summer camps and leisure activities as educational rather than purely recreational or status-conscious.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Letters of a Modern Father My Dear Daughter: We were relieved to receive your card. We knew you would be rather sore during your first: summer at a horseback camp, but we didn’t suppose it would prevent your writing. Do not be discouraged about your riding. Your mother’s seat cost me seven thousand dollars, distributed among three dude ranches. It was worth it, though. tor alter she had it she quit riding. You speak of enjoying your com- munion with Nature. That is per- fectly all right. Communing with Nature is the only item at your cam that isn’t an extra. T wish you'd look out for poison ivy, however. Noth. ing spoils an expensive sun-tan as quickly as poison ivy. Are you writing anything? All of my children have begun to write abou, your age and have kept it up until they discovered the editors were in a conspiracy to keep their. stories and poems away from the public, We are getting along fairly well at home, but of course we miss you. Jus last night your mother and I woke up at two o'clock, imagining we heard you coming in. But it was only your You know I do think Gladys always wears such awfully smart wedding gowns! brother Sheridan taking off one of the garage doors. Your mother says to tell you shell see you when it’s time for Fall clothes Your Affectionate Father, —-MeCready Huston. comicbooks.com