Life — June 21, 1917 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a small, impish figure labeled "LIBERTY BOND" being held by a soldier in military uniform, surrounded by other uniformed servicemen. The satire appears to target the disconnect between soldiers fighting in World War I and the financial instruments (Liberty Bonds) that citizens purchased to fund the war effort. The cartoon likely criticizes either: soldiers' resentment toward civilians profiting from war bonds, the burden bonds placed on ordinary people, or the commodification of patriotic duty. The "little bondholder's" impish expression and the soldiers' varied reactions suggest mockery of the bond program or those who benefited from it rather than those actually fighting. The exact political angle remains somewhat unclear without additional context.