Life, 1915-01-28 · page 15 of 40
Life — January 28, 1915 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page documents **Life magazine's relief fund for Belgian civilians** suffering during World War I. The text reports contributions totaling $4,544.83 received for food and clothing aid to non-combatants in Belgium and the Dinard region (likely French territory affected by the war). The main cartoon depicts a **heavily decorated military officer** laden with medals, accompanied by a caption mocking military hierarchy: officers accumulate medals while "private soldiers are not burdened with them." This satirizes the disparity in honors between ranks—a pointed critique that high-ranking officers receive disproportionate recognition despite lower-ranked soldiers bearing greater risk. The smaller "Scare-Crow" illustration (left) is unclear in context but appears decorative or commentary on fear-mongering. The page emphasizes that Life's readers' contributions provide practical relief: 10,000+ cans of pork and beans totaling nine tons, feeding 20,000+ meals to starving Belgians. The appeal urges continued American charitable giving, as "the great need is still there."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
For the Sufferers CKNOWLEDGMENTS below are of contributions received at Lire office inclusive of January 16th: Eresiously acknowledged . 4379-83 Mrs. $.00 George A. eee er Nev.. 20.00 Memory of E. F. $0.00 Elizabeth C. R. Minn... Vernon Wade Stone, Sait Lake City, tah. M. L. M., New York City Boys’ Class, Springboro Reformed ‘hurch, Dayton, . joer itliam: F. L., Girard, Ill. W. D., Goldsboro, Ullisn, aed Nelson, 1.00 Little Fails, 5.00 $4,544.83 ‘Also a package of clothing from Katharine Allen, Newport, R. In view of the time required for transportation and delivery and the near approach of spring, it has been deemed wise to reduce the amount of heavy clothing to be sent to the non- combatants and substitute a proportion of food. Therefore the latest shipment, di- vided between the relief work at Dinard and the American Commission in Belgium, consists of 300 shawls, 600 very excellent sweaters and more than ten thousand cans of cooked pork and beans. Each of these cans contains practically two meals for an adult, mostly beans, but with an addition of the meat element. There could be no more satisfying and sustaining diet. The form of the package provides for easy distribution and insures against waste. The food is ready for imme- THE SCARE-CROW TO ENABLE SOLDIERS OF HIGH RANK TO WEAR MORE MEDALS PRIVATE SOLDIERS ARE NOT BURDENED WITH THEM, THE LESS RISK THE MORE MEDALS diate consumption, or may be heated if circumstances allow. It may interest the contributors to Lirr’s fund to know that the weight of this food is some- thing over nine tons, and that it will provide more than twenty thousand meals for people on the verge of starvation. Like all the relief sent by Luire’s readers, these supplies are bought at practically the actual cost of manufacture and go direct to the sufferers without cost of transporta- tion or handling. It is not yet time to cease giving. The great wave of pity and sympathy that swept over America for the brave people of cruelly devastated Belgium may have spent its first force. But the great need is still there, and Amer- ica must continue its work of mercy for weeks to come. To us these starv- ing women and children still look to save them from the pangs of hunger and from death itself. There are many channels through which help may be sent. Lure is glad to aid its readers in giving their generosity practical and efficient form.