Life, 1916-05-11 · page 11 of 48
Life — May 11, 1916 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page depicts the aftermath of World War I. The engraving shows German soldiers marching past the body of a fallen soldier, with a note identifying it as "Deutschland Über Alles"—acknowledging Gérome's painting "Execution of Marshal Ney." The accompanying poem, "The Casualist" by Richard Butler Glaenzer, meditates on romantic love and loss. The speaker asks whether meeting a beloved woman was "designed for my goal," questioning if their love survives death or separation. The juxtaposition is pointed: the grandiose German nationalism ("Deutschland Über Alles") contrasts sharply with the poem's intimate, questioning meditation on personal love—suggesting that military ambition and nationalist fervor destroy individual human connection and meaning.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DEUTSCHLAND UBER ALLES ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO GEROME'S AD I met her anywhere But the place we chanced to meet, Would I, would I, O my Soul, Have considered her so fair, Found her half so sweet? Would I, O my Inner Soul, Have designed her for my goal? The Casuist EXECUTION OF MARSHAL NEY” Heart, O Heart, you ask who know! It was praise you wanted then. Praise and love and love she gave, Love which set itself so low That it thought you brave. Will you find such faith again Anywhere or anywhen? Richard Butler Glaenzer. comicbooks.com