Life, 1917-05-17 · page 30 of 35
Life — May 17, 1917 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This WWI-era satirical page attacks Germany's conduct and American anxieties through multiple pieces: **"Wooden Ships"** (poem): References Shakespeare's *Macbeth*'s "Birnam Wood" prophecy to suggest America will build countless wooden vessels to counter German U-boats, inevitably defeating them. It's propaganda-as-poetry, addressing the Kaiser as "royal murderer." **"Prussian Reprisals"** (article): Mockingly describes Germany's threat to retaliate against Britain/France for transporting wounded soldiers on hospital ships. The satire exposes this as absurd—sarcastically suggesting Germany will next punish them for not drinking poisoned wells or leaving orphans in bombed asylums. It's bitter commentary on German military brutality. **Cartoons**: "The Brighter Side of Hell" depicts an anti-tobacco activist comically tormented by smoke rings. The bottom exchanges are contemporary humor about piano practice and Wall Street's financial collapse. The page reflects American wartime sentiment: confidence in industrial capacity, moral outrage at German tactics, and dark humor about civilian anxieties.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
914 Wooden Ships S°. royal murderer, you thought To strew the sea with dead Till not a single prow was left To sail the pathway red! But wooden ships are building now, Stout vessels, thousands strong, With sides of oak and tall pine masts, The ocean ways to throng. And terror shall besiege your heart And tell you all is vain, When thus you see that Birnam wood Has come to Dunsinane. MeLandburgh Wilson, EY's see nervous prostration caused by poise, patience and calm de- liberation? Accompany a_high-strung woman friend on a shopping tour until she encounters a salesperson who, soft- voiced and self-possessed, moves Ici- surely and calmly, asks for precise details, shows everything in stock remotely resembling the order, and slowly and de- liberately transcribes name and address. Have smelling salts or an ambulance handy. THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF HELL THE ANTI-TOBACCO CRANK JUMPING THROUGH SMOKE RINGS ALT PAPA AND THE FORTY THIFVES Prussian Reprisals HE Prussians have issued a statement declaring that if the British and French persist in carrying wounded German soldiers on their hospital ships, thus placing ob- stacles in the way of submarine commanders who wish to torpedo said ships, the Imperial German government will be obliged to repay such indecent and perfidious conduct by inflicting reprisals on the British and French, We may soon expect to hear that the Imperial German government has started to inflict reprisals on the British and French for failing to drink from wells which the Germans have poisoned, for neglecting to leave orphans in the orphan asylums which they bombard, or for removing the statuary and altar decorations from the cathedrals which they shell. How long, O Lord, how long! Easy! “TH say the Germans could plant mines right in New York Harbor.” “That's nothing. A lot of 'em have already exploded in Wall Street.” RS. JONES: Does my daughter's piano practice annoy your husband? Netcusor: Oh, not at all—Jack can't tell one note from another! \\\ Inr ing comichooks.qom