Life, 1917-05-31 · page 25 of 38
Life — May 31, 1917 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This WWI-era page contains humorous commentary on American war effort and attitudes. **"How to Win the War"** is satirical advice mocking pacifists and offering absurd military strategies (recruiting "movie heroes," "belligerent cooks," planting potatoes). The cartoon above depicts a soldier recruiting effort. **"Looking on the Dark Side"** counters pessimism about the war, arguing that those bearing the greatest burdens remain cheerful (citing French resilience). It defends citizens continuing normal life—eating, joking, working—as patriotic rather than unpatriotic, asserting this demonstrates courage rather than ignorance. **"The Clock Does Not Move Backward"** dismisses fears Russia might join Germany, arguing Russia, newly freed from tsarist "slavery," will naturally progress toward freedom despite temporary instability. It cannot regress. **The dog cartoon** shows a greyhound asking a bulldog to fight for a bone. The bulldog claims pacifism but admits fighting over the bone—satirizing selective pacifism or hypocrisy about non-violence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
How to Win the War G*é the pacifists. Recruit a regiment of dauntless movie heroes. Elect certain members of Congress to talk the enemy to death—they can do it with ease. Recruit a regiment of belligerent cooks. Plant a potato where the ash pile grows, Put none but Americans on guard in the Senate. Less money for movies and more for munitions. Stick to the right, even if Niagara Fal Mobilize the nurses. about infantry. When a man volunteers give him a medal for bravery. If he marries and then volunteers give him two medals. They know all Looking on the Dark Side HERE seems to be a melancholy impression on the part of some people that because this war is the most serious business we have ever had in this country we ought to go into mourning, close up all our shops and shed tears on one another's shoulders. Also, there seems to be an impression that because a number of people are not doing all this, but are going about their business cheerfully, are even laughing and joking among themselves—are eating three square meals a day and getting a reasonable amount of fun out of life—these people do not “realize” the situation. The fact is, however—and this is borne out by human experience—that those who bear the greatest burdens, who accomplish the greatest deeds, are precisely those who act in this way. Look at the French people! Nobody hears them complain, Their cheerfulness under the most trying hardships is an example to the whole world. Look also at our young men who are coming forward, eager to go to the front. You don’t find them with drawn, pinched faces, wondering what is going to happen. Don't get the idea that they don’t know. They do. But it is the glorious privilege of youth to take the hardest things lightly. When a man gets beyond a certain age the toxins get into his blood; he gets cautious; his nerve begins to vibrate. He is likely to be more or less gun-shy. History shows that the period of greatest taxation in any country always the period of greatest prosperity, when money is turned over rapidly. The boom in sentiment, in real character, in courage, in fortitude, in rapid-fire business values, has begun. Let us make the most of it. America, not for the Americans, but for all the world! “ HAROLD, 1 WANT YOU TO GO TO THE “ WHAT'LL 1 DO,WITH THE ARMY?” The Clock Does Not Move Backward SOME pessimists have been worried about Russia. They have been wondering if Russia will join Germany. Nonsense! Russia is going through the same period that every coun- try goes through when it emerges from slavery into free- dom. Russia may be negligible for a time as a factor in the war. Russia will naturally waver, like a blind person suddenly restored to sight and brought out into the full * light of day. But Russia will not go back. Greyhound to Bulldog: 1 wisi you'v co THAT DOG FOR ME. “1 THOUGHT YOU WERE A PACIF “1AM, BUT HE'S GOT MY BONE,” AND FIGHT comicbooks.com