Life, 1916-02-10 · page 14 of 44
Life — February 10, 1916 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** Depicts the U.S. Capitol in ruins. Two figures—labeled "Mr. Common People" and "Sam"—observe the destruction. Mr. Common People declares the Capitol "blown up"; Sam urges restraint and patience, suggesting "everything will blow over." This is **WWI-era political satire** mocking Americans who downplay catastrophic events or radical threats, assuming crises will naturally resolve without action. **Bottom Section:** "Our Last Line Reserves," a poem by Terrell Love Holliday, patriotically describes American civilians preparing for conflict—mothers, siblings, and children taking up defense roles. The accompanying illustration shows "Mrs. Armsworthy's Bridge Party," a social gathering where women discuss Steel stocks (likely war production investments). The caption's irony suggests civilians are simultaneously trivializing warfare through social pleasantries while profiting from it.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mr. Common People: Writ, WELL, 1 DECLARE! THEY'VE BLOWN UP THE caPiToL! Sam: SO THEY HAVE. LET US RESERVE COMMENT, HOWEVER, AND MAYBE EVERYTHING WILL BLOW OVER Our Last Line Reserves CLAIM that we are fit and ready To lick the universe, b'gosh! Peruse this, you who talk like Teddy; ‘Twill prove your preaching’s purest bosh. , To show the nation’s martial spirit, My folks, as typical, I cite. They know the weakling’s fate, and fear it, And thus prepare themselves to fight. Ma keeps a can of talcum powder; And pa to granddad’s musket hangs (No modern rifle thunders louder) ; Small sister combs her hair in bangs. Big brother, keen for soldier training, Commands a company of Scouts; And baby, when it isn’t raining, Is busy building sand redoubts. es 8 e 8 8 Though crowded to extremest passes, Americans need waste no breath, For Congress, with its poison gases, Can always talk the foe to death. Terrell Love Holliday. MRS. ARMORSWIFT'S BRIDGE PARTY WHY STOP AT STEEL? (Steet shares distributed as prises ot Mrs, Elbert H. Gary's bridge party.—Daily paper.) comicbooks.com