Life, 1916-07-06 · page 40 of 42
Life — July 6, 1916 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem by Herbert Heron is a bitter anti-German satire, likely from World War I (references to Louvain, Rheims, Belgian mines, and Zeppelins date it to that conflict). It mocks Kaiser Wilhelm II by describing his crown jewels as composed entirely of war spoils and human suffering. Each gemstone represents atrocities: rubies from Louvain (Belgian city destroyed in 1914), emeralds symbolizing "pain," garnets like "blazing guns," bloodstones, and pearls that are the "pale heads of little boys and girls" drowned at sea. Poison gases form a "sapphire." The Kaiser is portrayed as literally wearing the bodies and treasures of his victims. The final stanza reveals the satire's point: he "sought these gorgeous things / Among the treasures of the dead"—suggesting his crown represents not legitimate power but desecration and theft from the murdered. This reflects American/Allied wartime propaganda demonizing German leadership.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE FOR SUNBURN Crown Jewels HE Kaiser's brow with splendor shines, + AND ROUGH SKIN) 3» 1001 se wim things From English, French and Belgian mines, To crown himself the king of kings.~ There burn the rubies of Louvain, The setting red with angry suns; Below great emeralds of pain The garnets flash like blazing guns; And circled bloodstones throb and dart Where kindles, with an amber light, A jewel from a woman’s heart Stilled by a volley in the night. | ° The sacrifice of honor gleams. uason itiver Among the trophies like a star i Flares the black diamond of Rheims By Daylight On either side are royal pearls OR , R 7 the through trip, New The questing submarines have found— F q eal Comfort | Pale heads of little boys and girls York to Albany, or for . .. That in their mothers’ arms were a_ delightful day’s outing JN the tender, irritated condition drowned, take one of the splendid caused by Sun, Wind, Dust and Day Line flyers: inferi P ke The sheen of blue, long-traveled waves “ . so» inferior soaps, Fears makes a Is beryl where a moon has kissed, ‘Washington Irving’ wonderful difference in your Above their unforgotten graves, “Hendrick Hudson” Deep, deep in sands of amethyst H “Robert Fulton” comfort. DF ke . s f heie 8 H ‘Albany’ q trange opals turn their flaming eyes | Because of its absolute purity and ‘ : Service dally, except Sunday, be On smouldering crosses in a row. freedom from the dangerous caus- Ta mark the glocy of the vides tween New York and Albany, wit - connections for the Catskills, the tic effects resulting from, the use The proud turquoises wax and glow— Paneer cca ‘points neh cnt of ordinary soaps, Pears is Partic- tT P 1 1 f London t sod wee cbrough rail Hekets via ae I ‘urquoises gleaned from London town few York Central or West Shore ularly fine for sensitive skin. It By Zeppelins—imperial gem R. R. accepted on steamers. Or- cleanses thoroughly without the Too rich for any earthly crown chestra, restaurant. slightest irritation—keeps the del- dexce pte Teutonidiadem, Send 4c in stamps for literature icate pores clear and free and | The poison-gases form a cloud, HUDSON RIVER DAY LINE helps to restore a normal healthy A lustrous halo, weird and great, Desbrosses St. Pier New York condition. Above a sapphire Satan-vowed, 3 Where gleams the blue of Prussian hate. With splendor shines the Kaiser's head: They say he sought these gorgeous things Among the treasures of the dead, To crown himself the king of kings! SOAP Herbert Heron, is most refreshing and luxurious —yet most economical. Begin now—use Pears every day, and note the improvement. ; / ‘ S E x O L O G Y Send for a Trial Cake j ‘ = = by William H. Walling, A.M., M.D. SPECIAL enerous trial-size cake of imparts in a clear, whale jeiome in scented Soap send your ‘ t Kove ‘Youre Bae Sheold B. address and 4c in stamps to cover 43 x sowledse 2 Yeore Haskeed Shou TRIAL toiling cost to Welter Janvier, - Inited States Agent, 507 Canal OFFER St., New York City. A. & F. PEARS, Ltd. The largest manufacturers of high-grade “NOW, DON'T START ANY PEACE TALK, toilet soaps im the word GRAN'MAL JEST HOLD MY COAT.” PURITAN’ PUB, CO.‘ PERRY Bbc. PHILA comicbooks.com