Life — April 19, 1917 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Wicked W-ren" and "The Passing of Insults" This page contains two satirical pieces. "The Wicked W-ren," a poem by Arthur Guiterman, uses alliteration to mock a small, mischievous bird that wreaks havoc on other birds' nests. The extended "W" sounds suggest childish annoyance, making fun of overwrought complaints about minor nuisances. "The Passing of Insults" critiques how modern civility has eliminated direct confrontation. The author argues that while old-fashioned insults were damaging, contemporary society's "insult market" has become ineffective because people understand each other too well and misunderstandings are rare. The accompanying cartoon shows schoolchildren, suggesting young people experience less impact from verbal attacks than previous generations did.