Life — October 2, 1913 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 549 This page contains three distinct elements: 1. **"The Soldier's Creed"** (left column): A poem by Ernest Crosby emphasizing individual conscience over blind obedience. A soldier declares "I do not think, I obey!"—capturing early 20th-century debates about military authority versus personal morality. 2. **Old Overholt Rye advertisement** (lower left): Marketing whiskey with a patriotic 1810-1895 timeline, appealing to American tradition and longevity. 3. **Waltham Watches advertisement** (right side): Displaying ornate pocket watches with decorative cases, emphasizing craftsmanship and precision engineering as luxury goods. 4. **"Genius"** (lower right): A brief satirical essay defining genius as moral and intellectual superiority, suggesting society often mistakes wealth or luck for actual talent. The page mixes social commentary with period advertising.