Life, 1917-04-05 · page 59 of 70
Life — April 5, 1917 — page 59: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes advertisements with editorial content reflecting WWI-era concerns. **"Truly Prussian" Editorial**: A serious piece lamenting German treatment of Belgian civilian prisoners and deported workers, arguing their physical destruction will cripple Belgium's post-war recovery. This reflects actual Allied propaganda about German labor deportations during WWI. **"Dress Up!" Advertisement**: A Boston Garters ad using a domestic argument as its hook—a husband questions his wife's new dress purchase during wartime. The garter company responds that maintaining morale and "the spirit and enthusiasm of youth" justifies such purchases, even in economically strained times. **"Homeless" Story**: A brief narrative about an abandoned house where a neglected cat awaits her family's return, symbolizing the human and animal casualties of war displacement. The page juxtaposes commercial messaging with wartime pathos—the ads attempt to normalize consumer spending amid serious discussions of suffering, casualties, and social disruption.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
~Steam Yachts | end all types of Power ft. Power Tenders. pages on Pitting-Out Hustrated throughout. Price 25 cents. __ THE 6% 254 West | “a Hi RUDDER New York City niesiot Truly Prussian “ue civilian prisoners who come ok in Germany after three months tere of captivity have lost one-third of their bohe weight; they are unrecognizable, blood- ny to less: they are sick, and may never get well again; they drag along and die. If such is the fate of the prisoners who are not forccd to work, what is the pitiable fate in store for the Belgian working- men, deported and subjected to. the heaviest manual labor? In a few months our working popula- tion, the pride of our free country, will have its working strength completely crushed. The day when peace comes, there will no longer be any Belgian work- ingmen able to take up the great task of the economical rebuilding of what used to be prosperous Belgium—whose only crime lias been to defend unfinchingly the rizht of neutrals to life and honor. Extroct from an Appeal of the Belgian men to the Workingmen of the { World, He What, another new dress! How n T going to pay for it in these ‘Stic: Wall) sy. Geary Tan \youe wite— | RETAINthespiritand enthu- And because Boston Garters do siasm of youth—quicken their important work unseen, tendon Opinion. your interest in the affairs of don't let them be the last things every day life—enjoy the re- you think of. Follow your natural DUNLAP HATS | jaceoating. Sailers (68 new impulse and keep them fresh and ings— lively. The added comfort repays you. t your financial adviser. Take home a new pair today Boston Garter Mee OO GEORGE FROST COMPANY - MAKERS - BOSTON has at once identified Homeless Inherent HE blinds are down, windows closed, doors holted, No smoke curls from the chimney. The porches, unswept, are strewn with newspapers and circulars. The uality. place reeks of desertion 6 é The cat crouches on the step, bewildered and unclean, Ordinarily the neatest of animals, the change has worked havoc with her habits. A boy passes—a small, ordinary, mischievous boy—and a stone flies from his fingers NEW YORK . A dog makes a fierce dash, to stop with suddenly braced legs at the cat's very feet. amazed at her immovability. She slinks with a piteous miau around the house, where 178-180 Fifth Avenue, near 23rd St. she leaps to one of the blank windows and stares hopelessly into the distance. Home- 181 Broadway, near Cortlandt St. less, hungry and forlorn, pussy waits—forgotten! Accredited Agencies in all Principal Cities comichookskeeyn)