Life, 1916-06-01 · page 12 of 44
Life — June 1, 1916 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon shows a theater manager in distress at the stage entrance, unable to find a leading lady to open a show scheduled for June 7, 1916. The playbill reads "Too Much Wilson." This is political satire about President Woodrow Wilson. The joke appears to reference Wilson's policies or public presence dominating American discourse so thoroughly that he's crowded out other topics—even theater productions. The elephant figure (likely representing Republican opposition or the Republican Party) adds to the satirical commentary. The accompanying poem "France" by Henry C. Emery praises France as a noble sword in WWI, contrasting with broader American debates about intervention that Wilson was navigating in 1916. The page's bottom section discusses using the Bible as a unifying force, citing Wilson's own optimistic views on Bible distribution's peacekeeping potential.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
France (To George Casenave) RANCE—what a word! Like a drawn sword Outward it crashes! France—what a sword! True as the Word Inward it flashes! Legions from near and far, Why wage ye direful war? Honor or truth or shame? Whom shall we blame? Loudly their claims resound, Greed in some others found Save France, in honor bound, Wherefore she came. Who knows the heart of her Through all the years? We asked joy, art, of her, All the gay part of her. She hid her tears. Therefore men deemed her loose! She, nothing caring, Told not a world obtuse All her soul’s strife; Sceret her inner life, Griefs, fears and daring. Then when the trumpets blew, Instantly, silently, She, with no outcry, drew That glorious sword of her, Kept burnished reverently. Others with words would sue, This was the Word of her! Then was her heart revealed As the banners above her; Then were men’s eyes unsealed, Till c'en her foes love her. Time has its rhymes far-brought, Past poet's reckoning, Nation, with Deed or Thought Through ages beckoning. Greece rhymes with Harmony, Rome rhymes with Order From innermost city To uttermost border. Thus history writes her rhymes, (Proud Poland and Pity!) Thus the Verse onward climbs, Through human story. England and Liberty! France—and her Glory! Henry C. Emery, COMING It } “|JUNE 7, 1916 lemcace COosseum Ine. a. o.P PerseNT AN AWFUL DILEMMAIL Manager; Gracious! ALMOST TIME To OPEN THE SHOW AND I HAVEN'T GOT A LEADING Lavy! The Bible as a Link O N the centennial anniversary of the American Bible Society President Wilson spoke hopefully of the prospect that the Bible, when its distribution was sufficiently extended, would weave the spirits of men together and make them like-minded, and therefore peaceable. That is the intention in Bible distri- bution, Mr. Wilson admitted it might take a long time to realize it. Yes, a long time. Folks can scrap about the interpretation of the Bible and the application of its teachings with as much fury as about the single tax, suffrage, prohibition or any other live issue. In providing for the regen- eration of mankind it is necessary to take very long views. Nevertheless, it seems a respectable opinion that, in the long run, the Bible will do at least as much to unite mankind as either the Krupp gunworks or the movies. comicbooks.com