Life — June 9, 1910 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Fifth of July" - A Post-Independence Day Satire This page presents a poem by William Wallace Whitelock satirizing the aftermath of Fourth of July celebrations. The illustrated header shows figures in formal dress positioned to spell "LIFE," with two women flanking men in various contorted poses. The poem describes children injured and maimed from Independence Day festivities—firecrackers causing lost fingers, damaged eyes, and other injuries. It sarcastically notes that despite these casualties, "boys must be boys" and "girls must be girls," and that "patriotism" can only be shown through such dangerous practices. The lower photograph, captioned "TO BE CONCLUDED," appears to depict an injury scene, reinforcing the poem's grim commentary on how Fourth of July celebrations routinely resulted in serious childhood injuries during this era.