Judge — July 3, 1886 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "That Terrible Cannon Cracker" This July 3, 1886 *Judge* cartoon satirizes the dangers of fireworks during Independence Day celebrations. The illustration shows men gathered around a lit firecracker (depicted as a cannon-like device), apparently discussing or reacting to its explosive potential. The caption's subtitle—"Only a 'Sissy' After All"—suggests the joke involves masculine pride and peer pressure: someone is mocked as cowardly ("sissy") for refusing to handle or ignite the dangerous device. The cartoon reflects period anxieties about Fourth of July fireworks injuries, which were common and often severe. It mocks both the reckless bravado of those who played with explosives and the social stigma against showing caution—commenting on how dangerous "masculinity" could be when tied to foolhardy behavior around fireworks.