Life, 1917-02-08 · page 3 of 42
Life — February 8, 1917 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct sections: **Left side:** A philosophical poem titled "The Poilu's Litany" (the poilu being a French WWI soldier) expressing fatalistic resignation about war's uncertainties. Below it is a small cartoon showing a domestic scene where a child (labeled "Henrietta") argues with her mother about fish bones, with the caption "TAKING THE LAW INTO HER OWN HANDS"—satirizing childhood rebellion over minor household grievances. **Right side:** A Velvet Tobacco advertisement disguised as editorial content. It features a conversation between two men, with copy claiming tobacco improves with age "just like" people. The ad emphasizes "natural" aging methods. The page juxtaposes serious wartime sentiment with lighthearted domestic humor and commercial messaging—typical of Life magazine's format mixing satire, comics, and advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Poilu’s Litany ROM Miss Kathleen Burke's delight- ful book, “The White Road to Ver- dun,” we quote the following, an admir- able expression of the sang-froid of the French soldier. “Everything might be worse than it is," says the poilu, and in that spirit he has composed this philoso- phy: Of two things one is certain, Either you're mobilized or you're not mobilized ; If you're not mobilized, why, there is no need to worry, If you are mobilized, of two things you are certain, Either you're behind the lines or on the front. If you're behind the lines there is no need to worry ; If you're on the front, of two things one is certain, Rither you're resting in a safe place of you're on the front. If you're behind the lines why worry? If you're exposed to danger, of two things one is certain, Either you're wounded seriously or you're wounded slightly. If you're wounded slightly there is no need to worry, And if you're wounded seriously of two things one is certain, Either you recover or you die. If you recover there is no need to worry 5 Tf you die you can’t worry. IN’T tell me the world ain’t growin’ better. “Most things improve with Tiere was a fish dinner, and Henri- age—just like tobacco. etta, aged five, was doing considerable grumbling about a couple of bones that, despite her mother's caution, were in her portion. Edith, aged six, listened to Hen- e rietta for some time without comment. Y Cann Think f M || Thx: saudeo, sur bart out, petcu ou ot of Mellowness having apparently reached its limit: e e e “For goodness sake, Henrietta, don't ; W. th t Thinking f Ag fuss so! God put ‘em there!” 1thow 0. e. oagenatt. Mellowness is that mildness, smoothness and full flavor we all want in our pipe tobacco, and there is no better way of mellowing tobacco than letting it age nazurally. Every tin of Velvet contains selected tobacco age-mellowed two years in the original wooden hogshead— Nature’s own patient method—and the vest method known to man. Say to the storekeeper: ‘‘Give mea tin of Velvet, please,’’ and know for yourself the tobacco cured in Nature’s way. 10c Tins Se Metal-lined Bags One Pound Glass Humidors with New Ash Tray Top TAKING THE LAW INTD comicbooks.com