Life, 1916-05-18 · page 18 of 48
Life — May 18, 1916 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon illustrates the article's discussion of Franco-American relations during World War I. The sketch shows what appears to be a courtroom or official proceeding, with figures in formal dress examining or questioning someone—likely representing the symbolic "trial" of American commitment to French war relief. The title "Not Proven" references Scottish legal tradition, where a verdict can be "not guilty," "guilty," or "not proven" (meaning insufficient evidence). The cartoonist sardonically applies this to America's charitable response to French war orphans: Americans claim to support France, their "first friend," but the evidence of actual, sustained commitment remains uncertain or unproven. The surrounding text emphasizes that American contributors often give generously but briefly, then forget their obligations—"quick forgetters," as the editor notes. The cartoon thus critiques American good intentions that lack follow-through, particularly regarding the two-year sponsorship program for French orphans.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE . for a war orphan do so in the name of some child. Let it be The French Babies the contributor's duty to see that the American child fully ONTRIBUTORS to the fund to keep French babies understands the situation and the fact that the ten cents a day ani for two years is not all the orphan needs; that it is for the orphaned by the war with their mothers, instead Of srerican child to do more, little gifts of clothing or what not, being sent to public institutions, must not grow impatient expressions of solicitude, étrennes de Noel. Also let it be for if there is some delay in reporting the names and addresses the American child to find some among her own relatives, of the particular babies to benefit by their generosity. The when the two years expire—a small fraction of the period names will be forwarded just as soon as they arrive from required for the orphan and its mother or foster-mother to the headquarters of the Orphelinat des Armées in Paris. become independent of outside help—to provide the ten cents ; p : ints of the fol. 7 22% fF another two years. The reminder will be needed ; We take pleasure in acknowledging receipts 0 we are a busy people, and most of us, I fear, are “quick for- lowing contributions from getters.” That such a plan will help the war-orphan is manifest: that Little Miss Florence Klsg. New York City,.c8) Ber tid. it will be a valuable lesson for the American child, who can N. 0. Nelsoa, New Orleana, La. for Baby No. eet) doubt? But, more than that, it may help in some small way Frederick B. Yan Vout, L rereeaeien N? tavfor abies 6 to strengthen the tendrils which have bound together in sym- Kathe Mar Wonte: aby No. 65. pathy our country and France—her first friend. They are EH, Lacombe for. Biigabeth ‘aceite Moses, Bronx: grievously frayed now, more so than most people here realize. Me Eide Nos Yank Cayce taby Nec : I see letters from French people, old friends and warm friends Laue. eaere Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. of America, lettres intimes; and I know. Anything is helpful Mrs. vias Esquerré y which may tend to show that all of us are not solicitous only mae, 8 Be for our material gains. When these war-clouds shall roll away, when the thunder- Lire is also happy to show below that the two years’ sup- bolt shall no longer crash through the gloom; when, amid the port of Baby Number Fifty-five is now assured, and that ashes of her desolated homes and the graves of a generation only $3.50 is lacking to complete a similar assurance for of her sons, we see France, her dross all purged away in the Baby Number Sixty-three. seven-times heated furnace through which she has passed, stand- ing, pallid and haggard, in her Gethsemane with the bloody sweat upon her brow, but still standing erect, as, please God, she will, looking with clear eyes to the sunlight of a brighter future, Mey acknowledged | 7 may we not strive to make her feel that what little we may FOR BABY NUMBER FIFTY-FIVE. Mr: it ‘ont . “ Seog, *: “1 Mrs C1 12 Mardingrove: SoD. : contribute towards knitting up the raveled tissue of her daily Jno. B., Jr., Baldwin, La... 5 life is not just a charitable dole flung out from our abundance, but that every dollar of it is consecrated with the loving sym- pathy of the children of her sister republic beyond the sea? FOR BABY NUMBER SIXTY-THREE Very truly yours, Mra Win. Lyon, {ackzon, Mich. ty i es Friend, Ballston Spa, 'N. Miss M. C. Gray, Boston, Mass.. Frank Solomon, Brookline, Mass. Mrs. G. W. Noit, New Orleans, La Miss Emma Nott, New Orleans, La Frederick W. Keeting, New York City otal. Henry Lacomae. An Inspiring Suggestion New York City, May 2np, 1916, To THe Evitor or Lire: Dear Sir: The call of “ Orphelinat des Armées” appeals to all; the arrangement made whereby, in the fulness of time, cach subscriber will be able to identify the orphan he is help- ing is most desirable. Enclosing the necessary seventy-three dollars, may I submit a further suggestion? One of the beautiful things developed in France within the past year is the new war-relation of “ marraine” and “ filleul,” god-mother and god-son. Every soldier of France who was a homeless, friendless man was listed by the government, and the women of France, old, middle-aged, young, even the little girls, selected each her filleul, to whom it became her duty to send what little comforts she could, to write to him words of tender friendship and of cheer, to urge him to write to her, with full assurance that there was in France at least one woman who thought of him, cared for him and prayed for him to le bon Dieu. A SCOTCH VERDICT Now this is the suggestion: Let each of us who contributes “NOT PROVEN” comicbooks.com