Life, 1911-09-28 · page 21 of 42
Life — September 28, 1911 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes post-World War I social attitudes. The photograph shows children playing house—a domestic scene—captioned to mock contemporary pessimism and cynicism. The left column contains darkly comic "life advice" advocating constant gloom: expect to be run over, focus on disease and death, "be a grouch." This appears to ridicule the pervasive disillusionment and negativity many felt after the war. The right section addresses soldiers leaving the army. General Fred Grant is quoted explaining that men leave military service despite government provisions because they want families, homes, and independence—things the army cannot provide. The text acknowledges this is natural but "cannot be accounted for" by the government, gently poking fun at bureaucratic confusion over human desires for civilian life. The satire contrasts innocent childhood domesticity with the bitter, world-weary attitudes of post-war adults.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘~ PLAYING HOUSE ACCORDING TO THE NEW ble and sorrow. ‘There is sadness everywhere, if we did but attract it 10 oursclves. When you first arise in the mors the glass and sa T will not forget myself once I will bear constantly in mind that I shall probably be run over by something injured Disease and death are all about “No hope! No hope!” shall be my constant thought Look inward, not outward; downward, not upward; be a grouch! elf in look at yor g the day and permanently Terms on application. Luck Bah! Luck is but the product of care and dili- Yes. An old friend of mine had a swamp which he couldn't get rid of, and, by a great deal of care and dili- gence, a railroad was run right through the middle of it and now my friend is a rich man. Of Course Men Leave the Army GENERAL FRED. GRANT y cl d men buy their release fron “Wh ¢ thinks,” h Government be accounted for.” It se not understa why so the army on the no says,+ of the generous provis kes for its soldiers, this restlessness c pnot r by go S$ easy to accou! tion in the early records that it is not lone. Few soldiers can marry, make homes and rai: The Governm with fairly good pay nt provides t with wives, fan does the G pected that average men should be s. were architected and devised It is not to be ¢: fied with a b: with inter helor life. T contrary ns to thi O not worry so much about your enemies. Most © ng against y you suspect of direfully plot nking of you at all. comicbooks.com