Life, 1916-02-17 · page 39 of 52
Life — February 17, 1916 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains three distinct pieces: **"A British Victory"** (poem): A satirical verse celebrating the adoption of wristwatches by British military officers during what appears to be World War I. The joke is that the British once disdained practical modern items as beneath their aristocratic dignity ("tweeded and monocled"), but warfare has forced them to embrace useful technology. The wristwatch—previously seen as an undignified accessory—now marks military time precisely. This mocks British snobbery while acknowledging that necessity overrides class pretension. **"Of One Mind"** (short humor): A domestic joke where a husband's acceptance of his wife's divorce suit without contest is characterized as marital harmony. The irony is obvious to modern readers. **Waltham Watches Advertisement**: A full-page ad promoting Waltham's Grand Prize win at the San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exposition. Rather than make claims, the company emphasizes that awards and expert judgment prove superiority—a credibility-based sales pitch.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Bntish Victory HIMES that ring from the convent spire, Bells that sound in the palace hall, Clocks that ring on steeples higher, As sunrise breaks o'er the city wall, Greeting hours of the early fall When the lights turn pink on the Great White Way, Writ on the stone in letters of fire, A wrist-watch marks the time to-day. Once our smile had a touch of tire For dukes and duchesses, great and small, Tweeded and monocled, dame and sire ; Now with our deep disdain in thrall, To a different key we tune our Jay, In a slower mood we touch the lyre, A wrist-watch marks the time to-day. Saddle! To lands where the cannon- Dall Nips in the bud our hearts’ desire, And deadly new-fashioned bullets maul Men who die at their honor’s hire; Time has made us your worth admire. Practical modern aids we pray, Once we jeered what we now require: A wrist-watch marks the time to-day ! LEnvoi Captains, generals, colonels tall, Admirals gallant, grave and gray We're camping out in the rushes tall; Awrist-wateh marks the time to-day ! Kate Masterson Of One Mind RS. HOKUS: Do Mr. and Mrs. Dashaway get along well to- xether? Mrs. Poxus: Oh, beautifully, He lets her have her own way in every- thing. She is suing for a divorce now, and he isn't even contesting it. ‘Ring George lV" WHISKY SsosoFee. SSS SSS SO SS SO SOO SS SOS SS Ea = — a the Grand Prize at the San lrancsco Lenanmaleciic Lepostion was awarded Lo Waltham Watches This is the highest possible award and the only one of the class. In addition we received five gold medals and one silver medal. At the great world expositions, wherever exhibited, Waltham Watches have received highest awards. The English language is free to all, and the words, “precise” “best” and “reliable” can be used by any watch manufacturer with impunity. Rather than indulge in a battle of adjectives we prefer to point out that where scientific tests are made and where the judgment of watch experts is encountered, Waltham Watches are invariably chosen as being the most accurate and dependable of all timepieces. Such evidence is not a mere claim—it is proof. WALTHAM WATCH COMPANY Waltham, Mass. Ceococoeecococeccec cece occ co coc Cc Soc CSCC COCKS: Sess Sos scocsco So Soocco os So SS As They Went Up the Aisle to Get Married HE stv: Blurred faces. She saw: Mollie's new: hat One large candle flame. Sadie’s new hat. His late rival's cravat. Dorothy’s new hat. A strange man in black Margaret's new hat and white. Three unexpected rela- A crack in the ceiling. tives. Part of an organist Eighteen new gowns A golden gleam. Twenty-six bouquets. Her face. His mustache.