Life, 1916-08-31 · page 25 of 34
Life — August 31, 1916 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Cartoon "Patriotism":** The sketch depicts a woman in fashionable dress speaking to a poorly-dressed man, with the caption "No, we never have mosquitos here." This is satire on patriotic boasting—the woman's comment appears to mock hollow patriotic claims or nationalist superiority despite obvious social problems (the man's evident poverty). The joke suggests people make absurd patriotic declarations while ignoring real hardships. **"Meeting a Crisis":** This humorous essay by Chesterton Todd offers tongue-in-cheek advice on handling crises. It personifies crises as visitors requiring polite treatment, warning against drama or publicity. The satire mocks people who overreact to problems and suggests crises respond better to calm composure. **Historical Context:** The letter from Juliette Gaillon references her husband's 1915 death (likely WWI, given the mention of German internment), showing the page connects patriotic rhetoric to real wartime suffering. This juxtaposes sentiment against actual hardship. **"Woman and the Higher Mathematics":** A brief joke about a saleswoman's poor math—a 50% reduction from $2.00 should be $1.00, not $1.98—reflecting period stereotypes about women's mathematical abilities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: 369 PATRIOTISM “NO, WE NEVER HAVE MOSQUITOS HERE” Niederz Wehren on the sth of May, 1915, at the age of thirty-two years. This left me then alone with five little orphans, the old- est sixteen years old. I am not strong, and my only re- source is the allowance accorded to me by the government and the aid given to me by charitable associations. I am obliged to resign myself and to take courage. My little Marcel gets along very well. His sister, Aline, who is thirteen years old, takes care of him while I go to weed certain gardens. Now I ask but one thing, and that is that the health of all of us shall be preserved. Perhaps you would be pleased to see our photograph, and for that reason I send it to you. I had it made for my husband, who carried it while he was interned in Germany. My oldest daughter is not in the picture, for I was obliged to find her a place as a servant. In return Meeting a Crisis GREAT many people never know just what to do when meeting a crisi It is hoped the following observations may be of benefit. It is always better to make arrangements with every crisis to notify you ahead just when it is coming, otherwise it will almost surely drop in upon you at unexpected moments, just when you are entertaining distinguished guests or doing something equally unimportant, thus causing you great embarrassment. Have the crisis give you at least a couple of days’ notice. After the crisis has arrived, do not betray yourself by making too great a fuss over it. Treat it quietly and po- litely and show it to its room modestly. Do not have the fire alarm rung, send the reporters or use the word “con- fronted.” Nothing affronts any crisis more than to declare that you are con- fronted by it. Remember that the crisis will be with you only a short time and when it has gone, you should feel that you have gotten the most out of it. Do not pull its tail or otherwise annoy it. Then when it comes again, it will not try to get even with you. Some people act toward a crisis as if the only thing about it that made them glad was the habit it has of always passing. course, when you feel this wa and show it, you must not be surprised if it comes around again some night when you are asleep and off your guard, and jumps on you and kicks you in the face, and, in short, is extremely unfriendly. If you were a crisis, that is precisely what you would do if someone treated you that way. Chesterton Todd. I shall be pleased to receive your photograph. In grow- ing up my little Marcel will learn better to know who it is that has shown himself so generous in his behalf. You will be his war godfather, and your name will be blessed by the whole family. Your little godchild sends you a good big kiss, and his mother begs you to accept the expressions of her deepest gratitude. Juitiette Gaittarn, widow, Osselle, near Boussiéres, Doubs. Woman and the Higher Mathematics ALESMAN: Yes, lady; we sold these shirtwaists for $2.00 each last week, but for this sale we make a reduc- tion of so per cent. The price is now only $1.98. Lavy: Well, that’s good news. I'll take two of them. comicbooks.com