Life, 1915-04-01 · page 27 of 72
Life — April 1, 1915 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"The Crown" Poem:** This is anti-German WWI propaganda verse by Herbert Heron. It attacks Krupp (the German armaments manufacturer/industrial dynasty), metaphorically crowned "king" at Rheims, France. The poem catalogs Belgian destruction—Louvain, Namur, Antwerp, Liège, Malines—asking who bears blame for the war while suggesting Germany's industrial-military complex profits from destruction. The refrain "Krupp the king has been crowned at Rheims" ironically invokes German coronation imagery to condemn German war-making. **"Comic Artist" Cartoon:** A soldier holds a drawing, apparently finding humor in wartime. The caption "At last I've found some one with a sense of humor!" suggests dark comedy about finding levity amid war's horrors. **"Apportioning the Credit" Article:** This satirizes Dr. Osler's typhoid vaccination campaign for soldiers. The piece argues England's superior sanitation (not vaccination) prevents typhoid, mocking other nations requiring both—implying they have poor sanitation. It's skeptical of mandatory medical interventions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Crown AISER! whisper us whose the fault Was it the work of one or three? Tell us in what protected vault is Hidden away the Christ's decree! Peace on earth and the world set free— Lost again in a mist of dreams! Birds of prey are in air and sea: Krupp the king has been crowned at Rheims. Where are the cities of ancient lure, Beauty known for a thousand years? Where is Louvain and where Namur? Antwerp answers—and disappears. Vain our anger, prayers and tears! High over all the shrapnel screams; Famine and Death collect arrears: Krupp the king has been crowned at Rheims. Speak! Must the German spirit, France, Russia or England bear the blame? Grant that the powder lit by chance, Still there is Belgium's burning name— Silver ashes of Teuton shame! Brussels with gold her life redeems; Liége and Malines are gutted with flame: Krupp the king has been crowned at Rheims. Lord of peace—till the moment came— Look where the royal sunset gleams! This shall give you eternal fame: Krupp the king has been crowned at Rheims! Herbert Heron. Fa eollreers, Comic Artist (holding up drawing): At LAsT I'VE FOUND SOME ONE WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR! APRIL FOOLS Apportioning the Credit R. OSLER believes in vaccination as a preventive against typhoid and has recently issued an appeal to soldiers to look kindly upon having this poison injected into their systems. He tells how, in some countries, typhoid has been prevented by vaccination. Yet he admits that in England, where there is no compulsory vaccination, sanitary science has made typhoid comparatively rare. Behold! In England, sanitation alone prevents typhoid. In other countries, sanitation can’t prevent typhoid without the assistance of a serum poison Thus must each country decide whether it will have its sanitation pure or adulterated.