Life, 1917-06-07 · page 7 of 42
Life — June 7, 1917 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Illustration ("Dig!")**: This patriotic wartime propaganda cartoon depicts workers laying out large letters spelling "LIFE" in what appears to be a trench or fortified position. The poem by McLandburgh Wilson uses repeated calls to "Uncle Sam" (personifying America) to mobilize citizens—summoning them to "clench," fight allies' enemies, sow crops, and lend money to support the war effort. The visual metaphor suggests Americans collectively building patriotic support through coordinated labor. **Bottom Section**: "What Every Youngster Knows" is a humorous advice column by Edmund J. Kiefer offering cynical wisdom to youth—vacant lots are joyful, broken windows matter less than pie, and one should always keep dentist appointments. The accompanying sketch shows a grandmother and children, with dialogue suggesting grandparents shouldn't attend adult theatrical productions. This appears to be WWI-era content mixing serious patriotic messaging with lighthearted domestic humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Dig! NCLE SAM issues the summons to clench for him, - Fight with the glorious British and French for him, Out on the firing line, out in the trench for him— Dig! Uncle Sam issues the summons to sow for him, Feed our brave allies, defeating the foe for him, Out in the field with the plow and the hoe for him— Dig! Uncle Sam issues the summons to lend for him, Help our great allies, the billions to spend for him, Reach in our pockets ‘way down to the end for him— Dig! McLandburgh Wilson. What Every Youngster Knows A VACANT lot is a joy forever. Fellows who live in thin trousers shouldn't throw stones. One piece of pie deserves another. A baseball in hand is worth two in- side a broken window. Life is one school day after another. Hell hath no fury like the aftermath of smoking. Never put off till to-morrow the dentist's appointment you should be making to-day. Never count your dishes of ice cream before the company gets up from the table. Better be prepared than have to stay after school. When in Dutch, go to mother. Edmund J. Kiefer. Maud: vo YoU THINK GRANDPA OUGHT TO SEE THAT PLAY? Dorothy: WHY NoT? HE WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE WORST PARTS. comicbooks.com