Life — February 5, 1920 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Hero-Worshiper" This illustration from Life magazine (February 5, 1920) depicts a young Boy Scout gazing admiringly upward while holding a rifle, with a small dog at his feet. The title "The Hero-Worshiper" suggests the cartoon critiques the romanticization of military service and warfare among youth. Given the 1920 date—just after World War I's conclusion—this likely satirizes how boys were encouraged to admire soldiers and martial values through organizations like the Boy Scouts. The upward gaze and reverent posture suggest uncritical hero-worship, while the juxtaposition of the child with weaponry implies concern about militaristic indoctrination of young people in the post-war period. The point appears to be social commentary on how institutions shaped boys' values toward warfare.