Life, 1920-06-17 · page 7 of 45
Life — June 17, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features Fourth of July-themed political commentary. "The Optimist" poem by Berton Braley expresses patriotic cheerfulness despite economic hardship ("The rent's going higher; / All comfort's a fraud"). "Why It Is Such a Great Day" presents contrasting perspectives on Independence Day's meaning: a Democratic Spellbinder emphasizes the Declaration and League of Nations; a Republican Spellbinder counters that Fourth of July celebrates opposition to tyranny and domestic (not foreign) freedom. A Radical Spellbinder advocates for labor rights. The "Viewpoints" section offers comic contrast between an Optimist and Pessimist's outlook. The bottom illustration depicts a child calling another by a disparaging nickname, captioned about mothers using children's "right name" when they mean trouble—a relatable domestic joke.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Optimist Cc" ER UP! The prices are high, And onions and liver \re all we can buy; No wine can be filling Your veins or your cup. Oh, isn't life thrilling? Cheer up! Luck’s a flivver; You can't go where Or do what you like; hody nowhere Cheer up! Who isn’t on strike. On news of red ruin You breakfast and sup. \ fine mess to stew in! Cheer up! The rent’s going higher; \ll comfort’s a fraud; orld is on fire yme and abroad ; sds hurry and jam you; ue seasons your cup. ile pleasantly, damn you! Cheer up! Berton Braley. Relative Values committee from the High School juating class were at the jeweler’s ng the class pins. They wished an original design, representing a youth sur- veying the universe. orde y large would you like the asked the jeweler. ” said the chairman of the com- we thought the student should ut three-quarters of the pin, and the universe the rest of it.” \NY a man joins a club rather than pend his evenings at home alone Why It Is Such a Great Day DEMOCRATIC SPELLBINDER: As we stand here to honor those brave men who, by signing the Declaration of Independence, made us a nation, let us resolve to honor also the man and the men who gave us the new version of freedom in framing the great League of Nations covenant. Repustican Sreuzpinper: No day is more appropriate than the Fourth of July for reaffirming our faith in the founders of this republic and in those courageous men who are sustaining it by opposing the League without reservations. “ WILL-¥ “DARN IT! EVERY TIME MOTHER CALI Rapicat Sreteninver: On this Fourth of July let us unite for a freedom wider and more beautiful than that conceived by the makers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. Lapor Sret.pinper: This is of all days the day of org: Capitaist Srectninper: Let us again assert our independence, this time of a tyranny at home instead of across the seas. zel labor. Viewpoints PTIMIST: who waits. Pessimist: And they all come at once. All things come to him um!” E BY MY RIGHT NAME IT MEANS TROUBLE.” comicbooks.com