Life — November 4, 1915 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Neutral Prayer" - WWI Satire This page satirizes American neutrality during World War I. The poem "A Neutral Prayer" by Will Herford mocks those seeking to profit from the war while remaining officially neutral—praying to "gain by others losing trade" and "profit by each murderous raid." The lower cartoon depicts a mother telling her children that "Father finds he can't go out after turkey to-day," likely referencing food rationing or shortages affecting American civilians during wartime. Together, these pieces critique the hypocrisy of American neutrality: wealthy individuals profiting from European conflict while ordinary families face domestic hardship. The satire targets both greedy profiteers and the inadequacy of official neutrality as a moral position during global crisis.