Life — July 9, 1914 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot" This July 1914 *Life* cartoon depicts a couple reading together outdoors while a small child watches from a distance. The title references the Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne" (old times/old friendships). The satire appears to concern **romantic rekindling or renewal of acquaintance**—the couple is absorbed in reading (likely literature or poetry) while apparently ignoring or excluding the child observer. The joke likely plays on the tension between nostalgic romance between adults and domestic responsibilities (the child). Published just before World War I's outbreak, the specific historical context remains unclear from the image alone, though the timing suggests possible commentary on social priorities or changing relationships during that turbulent period.