Life, 1917-05-03 · page 16 of 42
Life — May 3, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This WWI-era page combines patriotic propaganda with satirical commentary. **Top section:** The "Evolution of the German Flag" cartoon shows five flag designs progressing from a standard flag to increasingly skull-and-crossbones variations, suggesting Germany's moral degradation during the war. **"The Answer":** A patriotic poem by Arthur Guiterman calls Americans to military service, rhetorically asking "Who will defend her?" and receiving the rousing response "Every man here!" **"How About It?":** An appeal to young American men to repay their country's protection by enlisting, framed as a debt owed for the security the U.S. government has provided. **Side content:** "No Case for the Kaiser" argues for removing Kaiser Wilhelm II regardless of whether he's personally evil or merely a puppet. "A Financial Success" mocks a newlywed woman for wishing her husband were wealthier. "Overworked Phrases" satirizes clichéd speech. The bottom joke targets Irish immigrants' status as "outsiders" to old American families. The page overall reflects American pro-intervention sentiment circa 1917.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
H鮫 to the bugle! Hark to the drum! Doubt, be forgotten! Faction, be dumb! One is our Nation, Honored and dear; Who will defend her? :very man here W W When did our Country Jhat shall we give her Under her banner, we eertaset EVOLUTION OF THE GERMAN FLAG The Answer Bootlessly call? Less than our all? Stainless and clear, Vho shall be marshalled? “Every man here!” How About It? AMERICA'S a pretty good sort of place. You young fellow there, with the broad shoulders and the cocky air, you were born here no doubt—played mar- bles and tops here as a little chap, later on, football and socker; went to the League games and shouted yourself hoarse, tramped the good old Board- walk and danced at the pier hops, earned your living here, and learned all you know, whether that be much or little. And all this time there was some- thing back of you that made it all a safe proposition—that made you sleep quiet at night and rise confident in the morning. And that thing was— The power of the government of the United States! To-day that power is threatened. Its prestige is questioned. Its vitality is doubted. What does it rest upon, anyway? On you, for one thing. On a few other things too. But you don’t need to bother with them. Your job is to see that the United States has a dead- sure champion in you—that if it rests on you you'll hold it up till the cows come home. Now is your chance to pay your country back for what it’s been giving you all these years—security. To make it secure for another boy—your own, perhaps. Long ago someone—a great many someones !—did it for you. All down the ages they have been doing it for you, not only in the United States, but all over the world. When the call came they laid aside their am- bitions, their comfort, their personal business, and went into the larger busi- ness of making the world safe. America’s a pretty good sort of place. What will you do to keep it so? Fall in!’ Forward! March! C. Hilton-Turvey. Overworked Phrases LAWZER: I object. Doctor: An immediate operation is imperative. NEWSPAPERMAN : MINISTER: be taken up. Tue Rich Ma Tue Gowrer: Tt is alleged. The collection will now Not a cent. “[S her family of Mayflower stock?” “All but her father and mother— they are Irish!” Who is for Honor, Spotless and bright? Who is for Justice, Duty and Right— All that the Fathers Bade us revere? Who is for Freedom? “Every man here!” Fling down the hammer, Lay down the pen! Need that which called us Call us again? Take up the sabre, Lift up the spear! Who marches onward? “Every man here!” Arthur Guiterman. No Case for the Kaiser HERE are two theories about the Kaiser; one, that he is the chief malignant in Germany; the other, that he is the victim of bad men who direct German policies over his head. Either way, he ought to go. If he is the head malignant, bounce him! If he is the tool of malignants, get him out of the way and give the better men a chance. A Financial Success RS. NEWLYWED: Oh, Jack! I wish you were a man worth while, like Lionel de Peyser. His mother gives him a thousand a week, and pays all his bills besides! VIVE JOFFRE!