Life, 1915-02-18 · page 17 of 44
Life — February 18, 1915 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page contains three distinct pieces of satire: **Main Cartoon ("Hon. Devvil are in the box"):** A caricatured revival preacher (labeled "Hon.") converts 1,111 "sinful" attendees in what appears to be a boxing venue. The satire mocks both evangelical religion and boxing culture—the narrator's cousin Nogi represents a naïve questioner, asking absurdly literal questions about what converts will "do" with their religion and whether Christian "baseballs" purify cities. The humor targets superficial religious conversion and American materialism. **"A New Song for Marching Soldiers":** This is anti-war satire responding to a real British clergy complaint about "Tipperary" as an undignified war song. The mock replacement song by "Robson Black" sarcastically celebrates sacrifice while simultaneously mocking it—soldiers march for abstract ideals while ignoring physical needs, and the final couplet about defending medieval art collections from "Huns" (Germans) ridicules the grandiose justifications for World War I. **"Overheard in a Family":** A collection of domestic squabbles illustrating petty family conflict and nagging.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Hon. Devvil are in the box” drink for throat and continue wards, “After this exhibition, how many sinners in this ampitheater wish to approach grace, lead better life & be saved?” 1,111 sinful looking persons lept to their feetwear. “Form in line to right and Hon. Gatekeeper will hand you tickets, Ad- mit One to Throne,” commute Hon. Sunday while me & Nogi escape out- wards for fear we might become Christians without knowing it. “What will those sinners be saved from when saved?” my Cousin Nogi require cowcattishly. “Baseball perhapsly,” I negotiate. “Why do they seem so happy and full of shine?" is next from hin. on- “They got religion,” I arrogate. “What shall they do with it when got?” he answer. I could not say reply sifficiently low for his intelligence, so I dib not. “Do such Christian baseballs make cities more pure?” he encroach. “ Perhapsly,” I narrate, “and per- hapsly it would be more better to en- force Sunday-closing law.” Nogi heard this looking quite dizzy. Hoping you are the same Yours truly Hasnimura Toco. (Per Wallace Irwin.) D” not hoard your money. Let the banks hoard it 277 A New Song for Marching Soldiers London newspaper item: “ Some of the British clergy regard ‘ Tip- perary’ as an absurd and undignified marching song and express surprise that some one has not brought for- ward an ode that expresses the sober mind of the nation.” WAY! Self-indulgenc Unchastened acquisitiveness Shame be your watchword! And palsied your initiative! Forward for Liberty! What matter the hazard? Let’s strike at Autocracy And Theological Error. Chorus. Distressed beyond measure We soldiers are marching, Confirmed in the efficacy Of national righteousness. What matter our rations, The carnal and Delights of tobacco And_ starch-forming jams? When Huns in their vill Deface our cathedrals And render irreplaceable Several really magnificent canvases of the medixval masters! sensuous (The last two lines are to be sung when going into action.) Robson Black. Overheard in a Family “*P E shut that door!” You wait! I'll get even with you!” “IT never knew her to be on tin “You're the biggest fool I know. “Mother, can't I have just a little more?” “Now, board? “He'll catch his death of cold.” “What makes Daddy so late My new table- who's been at the side- “How could you! cloth!” “T don't see anything the matter with her cooking “Don't ever speak to me again!” “Muth-her!”