Life — March 13, 1913 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration depicts the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City in 1920, captioned "The Parade of the Survivors." The cartoon shows a massive, chaotic street celebration with large decorative structures and crowds. The key historical context: 1920 was shortly after World War I ended (1918), so "survivors" refers to soldiers returning home. The satire appears to celebrate Irish-American participation in the war effort, with various patriotic and celebratory signage visible throughout the crowded street scene. The cartoon captures both the exuberance of post-war celebration and the ethnic identity of Irish-Americans during the Prohibition era, using the traditional parade as a vehicle for depicting American society's relief and joy at war's conclusion.