Life, 1911-03-30 · page 14 of 45
Life — March 30, 1911 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American military adventurism in Mexico, circa the Mexican Revolution era (likely 1910s). The poem by Reginald Wright Kauffman mocks patriotic war rhetoric by repeatedly substituting "Mr. Guggenheim" for "God" in traditional military slogans. The satirical point: wealthy industrialists like the Guggenheim family (mining/business magnates) allegedly influence U.S. foreign policy toward Mexico for corporate profit, not patriotic reasons. The epigraph quotes a newspaper claiming "Guggenheim interests are responsible for the attitude of Washington." The grotesque illustration showing demonic "bird-men" building a nest on a cliff overlooking Mexican terrain visualizes this corruption—predatory capitalists circling Mexico for exploitation. Soldiers are recruited with hollow patriotic language while actually serving private business interests rather than national defense. The satire equates war propaganda with corporate greed, suggesting young men will die not for "God and country" but for Mr. Guggenheim's profits.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHERE THE BIRD-MAN WILL BUILD HIS NEST Our Spring Maneuvers “The Guggenheim interests are responsible for the attitude of Washington."—Daily Papers, “TOR God and country!” Thus of yore ©, hero, when the cannon’s lips Our armies fought, or thought they fought; Breathe upon yours their fatal breath, So were the Bunker Hill men told; When, by the white Sierra peaks, So were the Lundy’s Lane lads taught; You mect, face front, a glorious death. So Mr, Drake sang; no How splendid then for you to thin! He'd have to turn a newer rhyme: “Writ on the changeless page of time At least to Mexico we go My name shall rank ’mid those who fell For God and Mr. Guggenheim. For God and Mr. Guggenheim!” Reginald Wright Kauffman. comicbooks.com _