Life, 1916-04-20 · page 41 of 52
Life — April 20, 1916 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **anti-German WWI propaganda** disguised as nursery rhymes. The "Mother Goose Steps" section parodies traditional children's verses to mock Kaiser Wilhelm II and German militarism: - Verse I depicts the Kaiser as a conquering warmonger spreading "Kultur" (German culture/ideology) - Verse II uses the "Rock-a-bye Baby" format to darkly reference German bombing of civilian homes - Verse III references the war's human cost—missing soldiers ("boys") - Verse IV satirizes resource rationing, with supplies going to "the Kaiser and his train" The opening verse ("Sing a song of sixpence") mocks Belgian suffering and suggests the Kaiser won't stop until his resources are exhausted. This represents American anti-German sentiment during or around WWI, using familiar children's rhymes to make propaganda accessible and memorable to readers. The juxtaposition with mundane advertisements for shade rollers, cigarettes, and car parts creates absurdist contrast typical of Life's satirical approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ey But none for the poor folk back in the When the pesky shade won’t aay I Tane. You can be sure it is nota Hart- FREE, Valuable book “Howto Vv. shorn Shade Roller. Improved Rollers move quietly and from your Shade Rollers”. Send Hartshorn Get the Best Service Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full smoothly at a touch, and stay right for it phewt and learn why it of shot— where you leave them. Gostafor to look when buying shade rollers centsniore,butoh,howmuchbetter! for this signature: Stewart Hartshorn Co. Four-and-twenty Belgians paying all they've got. When their hands are empty, then they'll have to swing: Won't that be a merry sight to cheer the Kaiser King Mhearard Valhorm Dept. 30E. Newark, N. J. Mother Goose Steps I IDE a Cock Horse to Old Charing Cross To see the great Kaiser upon a black horse. With spoils for his people and death for his foes He's sure to spread Kultur wherever he goes. Il Rock-a-bye babies in the house-top, When the bombs drop the houses will rock, When the bombs break the houses will fall— Down will come babies, mothers and all. Ill Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn, The French in the meadow, the Slav in the corn. Where are the boys that looked after the sheep? Are they under a haystack fast asleep? IV Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any fat? sir; yes, sir, I have that. Some for the Kaiser and some for his train— Tateyton ~London Cigarettes Herbert Lh foe tents Smoking Mixtura Fapundso Tobacco Co. , S6WestaS eet New a a ITSToPs THEN: JOLT. JAR. = VIBRATIAN =~ HERE are three evils with which every car must con- tend — jolt, yar and vibration. They are successfully combated by the Ffartford SHOCK ABSORBER which applies the proven principle of frictional absorption to their elimination. Rough road conditions incite abnormal spring action. When roads are rough, effective spring control is essential for riding comfort. The Hartford Shock Absorber affords such control through frictional- ly-acting discs which anticipate every violent movement of an automobile spring, dissipating the excess energy thereof and perfecting the function of the spring. Jolt, jar and vibration are robbed of their power to cause discomfort to you or harm to your car, when you use the Hartford Shock Absorber. Mention make, year and model of car and we will send you our “Comfort Chart,” which tells how to make your particular car doubly comfortable and longer-lived. HARTFORD SUSPENSION COMPANY EDWARD V. HARTFORD, President 192 Morgan Street JERSEY CITY, N. J. Makers of the Hartford Shock Absorber, Hartford Cushion Sprit V. Hart. Mrd Electric Brake: Hartiord Auto Jacks Harford Busper’ Red! Rack duck, Branches: New York Boston Chicago Distributors in principal cites, Dealers everywhere +4 Formerly Trefealt Hartford comicbooks.com