Life, 1916-06-15 · page 17 of 48
Life — June 15, 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American patriotic hypocrisy around Fourth of July celebrations, likely during or shortly after World War I. The main article "Let Us Celebrate" mocks arguments for continuing fireworks displays despite European suffering. The author presents the counterargument sarcastically: that fireworks are essential for American prestige (to show other nations we're prosperous), that discontinuing them would embarrass politicians who use them to manipulate voters, and that we've already contributed enough to European relief. The top illustration shows "Mrs. Bumfry-Lorde," described as a "world-famous priestess of passion," sleeping over a book—likely mocking sentimental or frivolous attitudes toward serious matters. The small "Old Game" comic mocks technological fakery: one character claims to have invented a water-powered motor car; the other cynically notes people have been adulterating gasoline with water for years—a reference to either wartime rationing practices or simple consumer fraud. The central image titled "The Spell" appears to show a figure under hypnotic influence, reinforcing the page's theme of Americans being manipulated into nationalist fervor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
121 very year of all years for us to celebrate our national independence with fireworks and to give to the rest of the world a highly colored picture of how much better off we are than they. Other nations must burn gunpowder to wound and kill; we can burn it for fun in the name of patri- otism and Uncle Sam. The surmise that the presence of the British navy on the Atlantic has kept Boston and New York and Philadelphia and Washington still on rari the map of the United States need not make us too uneasy; we don’t have to se think of such things seriously, os Y yj 3 7 On the night of the coming Fourth let . “Sey” us all join in the good time. Let all men = ~*~ 4 of sense and patriotism light their cigars with Roman candles, Take the children to the fireworks. Do not tell them of the fireworks in Europe. Do not blight their young lives by teaching them any sym- pathy for the orphans abroad, Let the brass band blare and the rockets go sky- ward, while Old Glory breaks out in col- ored fire. Let us all sing “The Star Spangled Banner.” We are not in misery —we have nothing to fear—we, through the patriotic virtues of our ever-memor- able ancestors, have earned the glorious MKS. BUMPRY-LORDE, THE WORLD-FAMOUS PRIESTESS OF blessings of an eternal peace. FIND MR, BUMFRY-LORDE ASLEEP OVER HER NEW BOOK, “ THE EAGL! The newest invention is said to run a motor Let Us Celebrate RAMERCY: SW of our fellow-countrymen car with water, with high brows, blue noses, and Park: There's nothing new about that. They've been try- a liking for the disagreeable, have the ing to see how much water they could put in the gasoline as ridiculous notion that displays of fire- far back as I can remember. works on the we - coming Fourth would be internationally inappropriate, and that it would be better to give to the various funds for the relief of suffering on the other side of the Atlantic such money as may now be set apart for ruby stars and golden fizzes and purple pops. What nonsense! Have we not contrib- uted enough already to European relief? Those good people who would have us forego fireworks forget that our country is not yet looked upon as a responsible member in the family of nations. Others do not anticipate good manners from us. When the great European funeral goes by, Uncle Sam is not expected to know enough to take his hat off. Moreover, to say nothing of the inter- ests of firework makers, whose customary profits must not be curtailed, just think how embarrassing it would be for city fathers and town uncles, who have fish to fry and axes to grind and votes to get, if they could not modify, or mollify, or even nullify opposition to their interests by giving peanut, picnic and firework par- ties to those portions of the public whom they wish to exploit. No, no—this is the THE SPELL comicbooks.com