Life, 1909-07-01 · page 16 of 44
Life — July 1, 1909 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem and illustration satirize Fourth of July fireworks injuries. Set in a schoolroom roll call, each student's name is answered with descriptions of Independence Day accidents: lost ears, near-fatal rocket rides, burns, blindness, missing thumbs, and cannon injuries. The illustration shows a schoolmaster reading names while injured boys stand before him, some visibly bandaged. The satire critiques the American celebration's human cost—"Powder and Folly take their toll" annually. By treating horrific injuries as routine Fourth of July consequences, the piece mocks both the public's casual acceptance of these preventable accidents and the glorification of reckless patriotic celebration. The caption "The Hero's Wife" suggests ironic commentary on masculine risk-taking. Attributed to poet Arthur Guiterman, this appears designed to promote fireworks safety through dark humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lat oa aS Roll Call After the Fourth (With apologies to N. G. Shepherd) * EGINALD GRANT!"’ the princi- pal read. “Here!” was the answer, loud and clear, Reginald Grant had lost an car, But stood in line with bandaged head. “Andrew Blake! "'—then a silence fell; Many an eye had watched him sail, Clinging fast to a rocket’s tail. Had he alighted? None could tell. There they stood, in the morning sun, ads who answered the call by turns, Marked with poultices, scars and burns; Another Glorious Fourth was done. A cottage and barn were blackened coals ; The shreds of crackers were every- where; An odor of brimstone filled the air, And coats and trousers were full of holes. “Herbert Peters! "* a voice said low, “Herbert Peters was standing near When the cannon burst; and the doc- tors fear He won't be up for a month or so."* Harold Judd and his brother, Tom, Found their places with halting tread. William Cabot was home in bed, Badly scorched by a sudden bomb. Endicott Milliken lacked a thumb— A pistol had taken him by surprise Sparks from a pinwheel had seared the eyes Of Anthony Collins—he could not come Look at the record! Year by year Powder and Folly take their toll, Adding names to a mournful roll— ‘Tis a Glorious Fourth, but it costs us —Arthur Guiterman The Hero’s Wife: WeNwyY, THINK OF ME BEFORE YOU DO IT oe Sn | comicbooks.com