Life — February 19, 1920 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page features an illustration titled "Out of Danger" showing a large bulldog protecting a small kitten, paired with a poem called "Home" by Berton Braley. The cartoon appears to use animal metaphor: the bulldog likely represents a protective force (possibly Britain or a strong ally), while the kitten suggests vulnerability or a smaller nation requiring protection. The image's caption "Out of Danger" paired with the poem's themes of homesickness and returning from adventure suggests this reflects WWI-era sentiment—someone who has experienced conflict abroad now yearns for domestic safety and stability. The poem explicitly contrasts the romance of adventure ("the call of the sea," "roving stuff") with the comfort of returning home to simple pleasures and city life. This resonates with post-war disillusionment and soldiers' desires to return to normalcy.