Life — December 23, 1915 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "American Families—Past and Present" This Life page contrasts historical and contemporary American society through three images and accompanying commentary. The left panel shows a formal Victorian-era family portrait, paired with a dialogue where a child asks their father "Papa, what is a pacifist?"—a reference to pre-World War I pacifism debates. The right panel depicts a modern outdoor scene, likely satirizing contemporary social attitudes or behavior. Below, "The Groom" cartoon shows a wedding party, while the text "Reckless Extravagance" criticizes New York's spending on fire-prevention systems despite 15,000 factories lacking alarms. Billy Sunday (a famous evangelist) is quoted making a crude comparison about obtaining "concessions" from bellicose nations—the editor dismissively counters this as weak reasoning. The overall theme mocks shifting American values and priorities.