Life, 1917-08-23 · page 7 of 40
Life — August 23, 1917 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page features an illustration titled "St. Michael Leading the Airships" depicting allegorical figures in combat. St. Michael (a traditional symbol of righteousness) appears to be battling demonic or evil forces, with airships visible in the background. The accompanying article, "Concerning Postage Rates," argues against exempting picture postcards from postal rate increases. The author contends that postcards are luxury items—less necessary than letters—and notes the irony that exempting them would burden letter-writers. The piece sarcastically suggests that if the government truly valued the postal rate increase, it should require a one-cent rebate on letters to offset postcard exemptions. The cartoon likely satirizes government hypocrisy or corruption regarding postal policy, with St. Michael symbolizing moral opposition to unfair practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ndon mer- may boys jood tup t to LS out long ponents to bele OPS! eight right Se each als Ltd. IBLETT XUM ICTURE postcards have been ex- empted from the increase in the postage rate. We wonder why this should be. If the exemption has come about logically, picture postcards have been exempted because they are more necessary and less of a luxury than letters, magazines or newspapers. Yet we find it impossible to believe that a green, pink, brown, blue and ycllow ST. MICHAEL LEADING THE AIRSHIPS Conceming Postage Rates picture postcard depicting the exterior of the Jones Hotel at Slantawollaga, Illinois, and inscribed with the preg nant words: “This is where we stopped last night. X is our room. Wish you were here,” is more of a ne- cessity or less of a luxury than a letter from a householder to a coal dealer, ordering ten tons of coal. The picture postcard is doubtless a great institu- tion, without which the friends and rel- atives of travelers would never get a good idea of the Soldiers’ Monument in the towns that the travelers visit. But if it is to be exempted from the increase in the postal rate, the govern- ment, to be logical, should give all letter writers a rebate of one cent for every letter which they send through the mails. comicbooks.com