Life, 1913-08-28 · page 26 of 40
Life — August 28, 1913 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Illustration ("Week-End on Mount Olympus"):** A satirical scene depicting Greek gods and goddesses relaxing while soldiers in modern military dress stand nearby. The juxtaposition mocks the disconnect between classical ideals of peace and beauty with contemporary military reality. **Letter Context:** The page publishes a letter from Second Lieutenant Leonard H. Drennan (August 1, 1913) responding to *Life* magazine's apparent pacifist advocacy. Drennan argues that military virtues are essential, that soldiers—not peace advocates—prevent war, and that larger armies (specifically citing German military buildup) maintain peace through strength. He implicitly critiques *Life*'s anti-militarism as naive and dangerous. **Small Comic:** The bottom illustration is a joke about a doctor's visit—likely satirizing medical billing practices where doctors charge without transparent disclosure. **Historical Context:** This reflects pre-WWI tensions (1913) when German military expansion was debated, and American military advocacy competed with pacifist sentiment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
and honest. The military is the only profession in which a man_ possessing those qualities cannot fail to succeed. In fact, these qualities are essential for military success. Can you say the same for success in the arts of peace? No. Not as success is judged by civilian standards. Which, then, would you say was the more desirable type—the type produced by the military, or the type produced in eternal peace? Your campaign reminds me of the charge of the light brigade—very dash- ing, but utterly useless, You men of peace can't prevent: war. When war is due it will come whether you believe in it or not, and the only people who can stop it are your soldiers, so that there is no use in making the profession unpopular. You are too apt to need us, and when you do you will need us badly, WEEK-END ON MOUNT OLYMPUS and the fiercer we are the better you will like us. If you are really sincere, Lire, you will do more good by advocating a larger army to prevent war by the en- tirely effectual means that the German Emperor has used for so many years. If you deign to allow me any sp; I am afraid I am encroaching upon the subject is so vast and there is so much to be said on our side which can never be said, and we are all so sure that we are right that I am going to send it all in and trust to your generosity to Bive it space, With best wishes, Your friend, Leonard H. Drennan, Second Lieut,, Fourth Infantry. Camp Crockett, Gatveston, Texas, August 1, 1913. hon “pID THE DOCTOR TELL YOU WHAT YOU HAD?” “NO. HE TOOK WHAT I HAD WITHOUT TELLING ME.” comicbooks.com