Life, 1905-07-06 · page 14 of 44
Life — July 6, 1905 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem mocks the disconnect between patriotic *intent* and destructive *practice* on Independence Day. A father explains to his son that loud noise and fireworks honor the Revolutionary War sacrifice—that "patriotism deep and true / Expends itself in smoke." The satire's punchline: the boy returns home injured (arm in sling, hair burned off, eyebrows gone), yet the father celebrates his wounds as noble patriotic scars, completely missing that he's glorified dangerous, reckless behavior rather than actual patriotism. The joke targets Americans who conflate noisemaking and fireworks with genuine patriotic commemoration. By having the father praise accidental self-harm as heroic sacrifice, the author exposes how empty ritualistic explosions have become divorced from the serious values they supposedly represent. The page also includes unrelated satirical pieces: "Boudoir Conversation" (household items arguing) and notes on LIFE's charitable Fresh-Air Fund.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A True Patriot. ZAR Father,” said a little lad, Fourth of July is here. Why do we keep the day so loud That every one can hear?” “My boy,” the earnest father said, “ I'm glad you asked me why ; 'Tis Independence Day, for which Our sires did fight and die. “ And we, to keep their memory green, Must make terrific din, Awake the night with yells and bells, And then at day begin To load and fire, and boom and bang, And frighten timid folk ; For patriotism deep and true Expends itself in smoke.” At night the boy came limping home, A sorry sight was he, One arm in sling, his hair half gone, Eyebrows a memory, ‘The father clasped him to his heart,— “Your scars are nobly won ; My heart is thrilled to find I have A patriot for a son.” ‘A. S. Shelton, “LIFE Our Fresh-Air Fund. Previously acknowledged G. F.D., Jr. H.B. H.. Mrs, James Speyer. $2,407.03 25.00 100.00 9,00 $2,582.03 HE great trouble with us nowadays is that we ex- press our views so well that we feel no need of taking action about anything. AT LIFE'S FRESH-AIR FARM—IN SWIMMING. Boudoir Conversation. “ T'M up against it,” said the wall- paper. “Hard luck,’ replied the shoe over the door. “Cut it out,” cried the scissors. “Well, I've been walked on lately, too,” remarked the carpet. ** T'll get some one to look into this,” said the mirror. “ Needn’t,” haven't any write for mine.” “Oh, shut up,” shouted the window- shutters. Whereupon the gas became very angry and, after flaring up, got hot under the collar,and saying that he refused to throw any light on the matter, went out. B horse- said the desk, "I Everything is all sure you're wrong—then see how much you can make out of it. Torpedo: GoING TO POP. To Our Readers. 'HE first short story of the series which Lire has an- nounced to appear in our spe- cial numbers will be found else- where in our present issue. It is entitled ‘*Mr. Anderson of the Sentinel,” by Juliet Wilbor Tompkins. __ LASSICS are the books that travel along with us in time. Popular successes mere- ly cross our path DO BELIEVE MR, FIRECRACKER comicbooks.com