Life, 1916-06-29 · page 9 of 41
Life — June 29, 1916 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains two distinct elements: **Top Cartoon:** Shows a street scene where an adult confronts a child laborer, asking "Why aren't you in school, Sonny?" The child replies "Don't believe in child labor." This is satirical commentary on child labor practices—the joke inverts expectations by having the child reject the very exploitation he's experiencing, highlighting the absurdity of widespread child labor in industrial America. **Bottom Section:** A "Guide for Newspaper Readers" that sardonically defines political and patriotic terms. Entries mock concepts like "Congressman" (protects country against citizens) and "Patriot" (pays taxes, serves jury duty, spends rest of time in cellar). The satire critiques hollow patriotic rhetoric and government hypocrisy during what appears to be World War I era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Guide for Newspaper Readers ITIZEN: A person whose sole aim in life or death is to get his coun- try into trouble. The United States: An institution for the collection of taxes. Congressman: One who protects his country against her citizens. International Law: A collection of insidious documents tending to embroil the United States. Inalienable Rights: Something to talk about on the Fourth of July. Armed Merchantman: Whatever Germany says it is. Defensive: That method of warfare which enables Germany to defend her borders, if it takes all France and Bel- gium to do it, but which makes it im- possible for a merchantman to blow her whistle without becoming offensive. Prussian Diplomacy: The offer to “WHY AREN'T YOU IN SCHOOL, SONNY?” “DON’T BELIEVE IN CHILD LABOR.” abandon one form of murder in con- sideration of being allowed to adopt another form, Technical Right: Any right that is too deep for a congressman. Honor: Evening clothes and the ability te purchase a quart of sparkling Burgundy. Patriot: One who pays his taxes, serves on the jury, joins the National Guard, and spends the rest of the time in his cellar. Humanity : sound. Humiliation: What we all feel when Great Britain snatches a bag of wheat consigned to Sweden. Sweden: A country with a passion for pancakes and the theories of the Rev. T. R. Malthus. The Grave: A safe place for a Chinaman, a Swede or an American citizen. Charles Elkin, Jr. A word with a noble “JM digging a well for exercise.” “ How are you getting on?” “Fine. Drop in on me some day.” American Eagle: wvo 1N THE DEVIL ARE YOU? Dove of Peace: wiv, Dav, 1'M YOUR LAST BORN. comicbooks.com