Life — February 5, 1920 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Our Own Private Boy Scouts' Anniversary" This satirical cartoon mocks a private celebration of the Boy Scouts' anniversary (occurring February 5th nationwide). The illustration depicts chaotic revelry featuring small figures engaged in boisterous, undisciplined conduct—playing instruments poorly, fighting, or acting wildly—contrasted with formally dressed adult observers on either side. The satire likely critiques either: (1) the gap between Boy Scouts' stated disciplinary ideals and actual boy behavior, or (2) wealthy families' private, self-indulgent versions of supposedly character-building youth organizations. The "shameless effrontery" mentioned in text suggests the cartoonist views something about this celebration as absurdly presumptuous or hypocritical. The overall tone is comedic mockery of institutional pretension.