Life, 1915-05-27 · page 11 of 44
Life — May 27, 1915 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a patriotic poem by Leolyn Louise Everett titled "To France," surrounded by elaborate decorative illustrations. The poem is a call to action addressed to France as a female figure ("daughter of the gods"), exhorting her to rise up in battle against her enemies during what appears to be World War I. The illustrated border depicts military scenes: mounted cavalry soldiers at the bottom, medieval and classical warriors on the sides, architectural landmarks (possibly Notre-Dame), and heraldic shields with fleur-de-lis symbols at the top. The imagery invokes France's historical military glory and cultural heritage to inspire patriotic fervor. This represents typical American wartime propaganda encouraging support for the Allied cause.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NCE more, oh daughter of the gods, you rise! Once more you fling athwart the stormy skies The gleaming beacon of the bright, bare sword ; Once more you draw from your immortal hoard The ranks of heroes who march on to reap The bloody heritage of dreamless sleep; Once more your siren lips give martial breath As they re-echo—“ Victory or death!” Oh world enchantress of eternal lure, Whose priceless citadel still stands secure, Holding above all flowing blood and tears Your noblest visions thro’ the crowded years; Your shrines are lighted with war's fiendish fires ; Your villages are crimson funeral pyres; Across the fields and gardens of your pride Like pestilence the foreign horsemen ride! Once more, oh daughter of the gods, you leap Up from the seeming of your careless sleep, Gird on your armor, bind your flowing hair, Break the wild night of tempest and despair With the gold summons of your deathless youth— That life is naught, that liberty is truth! Great glowing queen of tragic circumstance— God speed your banners, fair, heroic France! Leolyn Louise Everett. comicbooks.com