Life, 1911-06-29 · page 7 of 45
Life — June 29, 1911 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon by Cesare Vivani depicts a caricatured German militarist (identifiable by the spiked Prussian helmet) laden with explosives, cannons, and weapons, confronted by a small American soldier/boy. The caption reads "There's a Big Time Coming!" The satire addresses American Fourth of July celebrations and their dangers. The accompanying text criticizes fireworks and explosives that kill and maim people annually, particularly children. It advocates for reforming Independence Day celebrations to be safer while maintaining the patriotic spirit. The German figure likely represents external military threats or German militarism—a topical concern during this WWI-era publication period. The contrast between the armed aggressor and the small American defender suggests American preparedness or resolve against foreign threats.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| TTA TTT iii Ta Ee = = = =e Et = 2 Ee =I = = = = = = I J = = Notes Titi. “THERE'S A BIG TIME COMING The Glorious Fourth T was about ten years ago that Lire first suggested the idea of a safe and sane Fourth of July. The publica- tion of a picture representing a boy the morning after the Fourth, was the beginning of the crusade. Thereafter we loaned this picture to our contemporaries, and the idea, once launched, gathered impetus with each year, until last year it was taken up by Mayor Gaynor and a committee formed. Little by little it has been spreading over the country, until the celebration of a safe and sane Fourth has now become a part of the regular pro- gramme. Noise, however, still persists. Firecrackers still ex- plode. Toy pistols still continue their deadly work. It takes a long time to institute a re- form. It will probably be many years yet before the whole people become ac- customed to the thought that it is pos- sible to celebrate a national holiday without killing and maiming a lot of people, including children. Incidentally, this number of Lire is dedicated to that idea. And, generally, this being the season when we are reminded of our fore- fathers, it celebrates, among other trifles, American independence. One Advantage "S° you have adopted a baby to raise?” we ask of our friend. “Well, it may turn out all right, but don’t you think you are taking chances?” Not a chance,” he answers. “No matter how many bad habits the child may develop, my wife can’t say he in- herits any of them from my side of the house.” Reliable “PCHE number of men and women who don’t know what they are talking about is increasing in the United States.” “Where do you get your information from?” “From the census report.” comicbooks.com