Life, 1917-08-30 · page 31 of 40
Life — August 30, 1917 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains three satirical pieces reflecting post-World War I attitudes (approximately 1918-1919): **"The Open Road"** (illustration): Shows an early automobile on a country road—likely celebrating American optimism and progress during peacetime. **"Two Days"**: Mocks "calamity howlers"—pessimists predicting disaster—arguing they've had their say and now optimists deserve their turn to celebrate America's future and national character. This reflects post-war confidence. **"War's End"**: Satirizes wild speculation about when WWI would conclude. Using a ship metaphor, it suggests the war's duration remains uncertain regardless of predictions. The piece credits Howard Coffin (likely a public figure making such claims). **"A Man and His Wife"**: A brief joke about inflation—sarcastically claiming a married couple must actually be three people because living costs have tripled, suggesting severe postwar economic hardship for households. The overall tone juxtaposes national optimism with economic reality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE- 351 THE OPEN ROAD Two Days HY not have a Calam for the use of those people who have been predicting dire disasters and unnumbered woes? Flags could be put at half-mast, and anybody displaying the slightest sign of a cheerful spirit could be locked up. But when the calamity howlers have had their day, then let us who believe in the glorious future of our country, in its accretions of char- acter, in its new spirit of nationalism, in its higher heritage of the brotherhood of man—let us then have our longer day. howlers’ Day—a day set aside LEASURES are the gaudy rags with which we stuff up the holes that thought and care have made in our hearts and brains. War's End There is some wild talk about the war being over in six months —Howard Cofin. LL talk about the war's end is wild. Whether you give the war six months still to go, or two years, or five, your talk is equally wild The war is a ship. All hands not busy navigating her are at the pumps. How long she can be kept afloat de- pends largely on the weather. A big storm in Germany would sink her, and there are some storm signals up in that country. MAN and his wife are said to be one, but judging by the present cost of living they are at least three. comicbooks.com