Life, 1905-07-06 · page 19 of 44
Life — July 6, 1905 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several satirical pieces mocking early 20th-century American parenting obsessions and patriotic excess. **"The Day He Celebrated"** cartoon depicts a man returning home from Fourth of July festivities, apparently injured (bandaged). His wife notes his late husbands were "so different"—suggesting he's hurt himself during Independence Day fireworks, a common occurrence. **"Proverbial Patriotism"** parodies traditional proverbs by replacing them with fireworks-related ones ("A shot in the hand is worth two in the gun"). The satire ridicules blind patriotism that accepts casualties—"Dead boys tell no tales"—as acceptable costs of celebration. **"The Baby's Parents"** card mocks new parents who obsessively apply every trendy childcare method (sterilized milk, vibration treatment, "mental treatment") while desperately seeking more advice. It satirizes excessive parental anxiety and faddish over-management. The smaller pieces ("Not Particular," "Pa's Mistake," "Accounted For") are brief joke exchanges poking fun at marriage and everyday absurdities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
International. ACH nation vaunts ¢ crudity, E And thinks it aristocracy. The Frenchman flaunts his nudity ; The axon his hypocrisy, Answer. e HAT are you doing for your baby?" The young married man did not re- ply. Instead, he put his hand in bis pocket and presented the following : A CARD. In answer to the question as to what we are doing for our baby, we would say that up to date we have fed him on_ sterilized, un- sterilized pasteurized cow's, goat condensed peptonized and modi- ied milk, We have rocked him to cp, sung him to sleep, and let him howl himself to sleep. We have dosed him with hot water, peppermint, ipecac and soothing syrup. We have rubbed him with goose oil, olive oil and cod-liver oil, We have patted him on his stomach to the tune of * John Brown's Body."’ We have shaken a rattle before his face for three- quarters of an hour, We have given him mental treatment, vi- bration treatment, and turned red, blue and green thought on bim for hours. We are here to take orders and advice from everybody, and if you have the slightest thing to | suggest that we have not already done to that baby, do not tell us, We may forget it. But write it down, and send it along at the earliest possible moment. Yours respectfully, The Baby's Parents. Not Particular. HY don’t you get married, Bob?" “Why, who would marry such a rake as 1?" “I think Dolly would — she was brought up in a convent, you know! all is lost, s: honor. THE DAY HE CELEBRATED. THEY WERE SO QUIET, Jaggs) THAW ALL ® D AND TEMPERATE Proverbial Patriotism. CCIDENTS will happen in the best regulated fireworks A shot in the hand is worth two in the gun. A little burning is a dangerous thing, He who shoots and ruins away may live to shoot another day. Never look a gift cannon in the mouth A penny Cannon ers aved is two burned. kers alter faces. One good burn deserves another. Patriotism covers a multitude of sins. Whosoever thy hand findeth to shoot, shoot with thy might. It's an ill bomb that blows up no- body good It's a e father that knows own child—the day after. Une: lies the head that wears bandage: A living boy is better than a dead jot. Never put off till to-morrow what you can't fire to-night. pa h-Brown-Jones Jaca: MY THREE POOR, LATE 4) ME DEAR, ITHICTAM THE GLORIOUSH FOURTH. IANDS WERE SO DIVPERENT To YOU. Celebration is the thief of time: All's not cold that smoulders. A good aim is rather to be chosen than great stitches Insurance is the best policy. A new bomb sweeps clean. Dead boys tell no tales, Carolyn Wells. A Seeker After Truth. if the kittens really " M* MA mu MT ask the Baptist minister to do it?" ne drowned, sha Pa’s Mistake. RATE FATHER: Sce here, you young scoundrel, I heard you kiss- ing my daughter when I Frank Youtn: Pardon me, sir, your wife! Accounted For. “ T MISSED one of my chickens last night, neighbor.” “Indeed! She must have strayed over into your yard.” comicbooks.com