Life — October 21, 1915 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Indian Summer" - Life Magazine, October 21, 1915 This cartoon satirizes the concept of "Indian Summer"—the warm spell occurring in autumn. The title plays on this meteorological term literally, depicting Native Americans experiencing unexpected summer heat. The illustration shows figures in distress from intense sun: a woman shielding herself, a man swinging at the heat as if it were a tangible threat, another figure near a wilted plant, and an angel or cupid above (likely representing summer itself). The exaggerated poses convey comedic panic about the weather phenomenon. The humor relies on a pun—"Indian Summer" as both weather terminology and a literal depiction of Native Americans dealing with summer conditions. This reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward Native Americans as subjects of casual ridicule in mainstream American media.