Life, 1917-06-07 · page 21 of 42
Life — June 7, 1917 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"A Song for America"** is a patriotic contest soliciting poetry celebrating American democracy and liberty during WWI (the June 18, 1917 deadline places this during U.S. involvement). The $500 prize reflects Life's attempt to inspire nationalist sentiment through art. **"The New Slogan"** satirizes economic optimism from Treasury Secretary William G. McAdoo and Chicago industrialist Philip Armour, who claim postwar prosperity awaits. The satire mocks their insistence that hardship ("readjustment") will yield profits—essentially prioritizing "More business than ever" over workers' welfare. **"Death of King Stork"** (partially visible) appears to be an allegorical tale where various social forces—Cost-of-Living, Eugenics movement, Sex Propaganda, and the Tango dance craze—claim credit for King Stork's demise. This likely satirizes how progressivist social engineering and cultural changes were blamed for declining birth rates during this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE® A Song for America Lire will pay Five Hundred Dollars for the best one Are there poets in America who feel the thrill of the American spirit in the present war? Let them put their song into words. America needs the in- spirational value of a great song. Conditions No poem or song should be longer than twenty-four lines. It should be an original song of modern Democ- racy, typifying the spirit of human Liberty, Its adapta- bility to be set to music will be a factor. By “best” is meant its close conformity to the description just given united with correct metrical rendering. It should be type- written and addressed to the Poetry Editor of Lire, 17 West 31st Street, New York, and the author's name and address should be plainly writ- ten upon each manuscript, which should be accompanied by return postage in case of rejection. The Editors will exer- cise due care in returning unavailable contributions, but will not hold themselves responsible for loss. Contestants are advised to keep duplicate copies. All manuscripts must be in Lire office by noon of June 18, 1917. No manuscripts received after that date will be considered. The final award will be announced as carly thereafter as possible. Of this there will be due notice. Check for $500 will be sent simultaneously with the an- nouncement of award. If any of the rules of this contest are violated the Editors of Lire, who are the final judges, reserve the right to debar the contributions. Each contestant may send in any number of contribu tions. No music should accompany manuscripts—words alone will be considered. Contestants are urged to send in verses only that conform to the highest standards of metrical composition. No corrections or changes can he made after manuscripts have been received. It is not necessary to be a subscriber to Lire in order to compete. The contest is open to everyone. In the event of a tie the prize will be duplicated. The New Slogan WILLIAM G. McADOO, Secretary of the Treas- says that we are entering upon the most pros- ME: ury, perous period in our history So does Mr. Armour of Chicago. know. There will he readjustments. Everybody hates to he re- adjusted. But when the readjustment is over it will be the best thing that ever happened. ‘As soon as Congress stops playing with our emotions, and things are settled, we shall go on making money. Now is the time to remember this. It will not be “ Business as usual.” It will be “ More business than ever. So do others who BEING “GASSED” Death of King Stork HEE Stork was dead and all his cnemies gathered to do him honor, not ancunusual thing for enemies to do under these painful circumstances. “1 did it,” said the Cost-of-Livin pense account, I killed King Stork.” d Eugenics hanghtily, “but Tam the with my little ex- ixcuse me i guilty party. Taking advantage of a paternalistic govern- ment, IT made such strict laws that it wasn’t any fun any more for even the best fellow in the world to meet the sweetest girl; so King Stork had to go. It was I who accomplished this sweeping result.” I did it with my Sex Propaganda,” said the medical professor. “It was I who laid him out. Putting the whole sex regime on a profitable basis with the book-pubtishers, I made the subject so universally disgusting that no one could even bear to think about it. Iam, therefore, respon- sible for the disintegration of the late King Stork.” “As if 1 didn’t do it!" banged out the Tango, “ with my But at this moment King Stork slowly opened his eyes, sat up on his bier, straightened out his wing feathers and exclaimed, as he limped off: “My stars, friends! I assure you T was only in a tem- porary trance. It takes more than you fellows to knock me out permanently.” comicbooks.com