Life, 1914-07-02 · page 10 of 44
Life — July 2, 1914 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Fourth of July celebrations through humorous definitions. The top cartoon shows a woman ejecting a man labeled "GET OUT," mocking patriotic hypocrisy on Independence Day. The "Lexicon" mockingly defines patriotic terms: - **ORATION**: verbose speeches about freedom - **CLIMAX**: the dramatic eagle-release moment - **PARADE**: crowds between marching bands - **DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE**: ironically, a promise for freedom that ignores real inequalities - **STATUE**: patriotic sculptural representations The bottom illustration titled "Old Friends Meet Again" depicts Lady Liberty (classical female figure) greeting Uncle Sam, suggesting their annual reunion during Independence Day celebrations. The satire criticizes the gap between America's founding ideals and actual social/political practices, particularly regarding genuine freedom and equality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“so you're A CALF! WELL, YoU Look iT!” A Fourth-of-July Lexicon RATION—A disclosure as to the identity of the greatest, grandest, biggest, noblest, finest country on earth, Cumax—A lofty point in a Fourth-of-July oration, situated somewhere between the pine-clad peaks of Maine and the towering crags of California, and especially adapted for the releasing of a screaming cagle. Parapr—A line of patriots, banners, small boys and canines filling in the space between one Sousa march and another, ForeratHers—Social assets. Dectaration oF InpEreNDENcE—A promulgation of po- litical freedom which omitted to provide for emancipation along the lines of dress, speech, title-homage, theatrical entertainment, maritime transportation, and tea. Sicxer—Generally, one who would rather affix his signa- ture to a request for his own undoing than to bother about reading the contents. In connection with Independence Day, the term is applied specifically to a member of the Order of Convenient and Advantageous Ancestors of Our Most Exclusive Social Leaders. Amputance—A vehicle for the transportation of the scraps and remnants of Master Willie and Little Harold on the Fourth of July. Fincer—A fragment of small boy used as a projectile for a toy cannon, Lion—A quadruped of British adoption subject to acute dislocation of the caudal appendage about this time of EWORKS—The setting off by night of all the burning things not uttered in daylight hours. Statue—A life-size representation of a patriot taking the form of a declaration of independence of all the canons of sculptural art. (cet Ov \ INDEPENDENCE DAY, 19— Etocutionist—An innocent little girl led on by injudi- cious advisers to the commission of an Independence Day atrocity. G. Wasuincton—A patriot who simply couldn’t have brought himself to tell such things as thousands of his forensic children tell every Fourth of July. OLD FRIENDS MEET AGAIN