Life, 1920-02-05 · page 8 of 52
Life — February 5, 1920 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
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.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Our Own Private Boy Scouts’ Anniversary Just to celebrate the big Boy Scouts’ Anni- versary which takes place all over the country the week beginning February 5th. Meanwhile, with unblushing front and shameless effrontery, we suggest that you become a regular sub- seriber to this occasionally interesting paper. I , at $5.00 a year it is so inexpensive (in com- parison with other necessities) as not to be considered. Second, there is a great contest now going on, which you Enclosed must follow in our coming issues. Third, the great ahd One special numbers coming cannot afford to be missed. - $i.rg, Foregs Obey that impulse. $29). ‘Send Lire for three months Next Week: All about Love. Coming: The Tobacconalian Number. A subscription to Lire gives joy to ghe children of the family quite as much as to the grownups. In fact, the children usually ask for it first. re Try it, and see how your young people revel in LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York. 121 the pictures, a One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6.04.) Open only to new subscribers; no sub scriptions renewed at this rate. comicbooks.com