Life, 1917-09-06 · page 7 of 40
Life — September 6, 1917 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two elements: **Left side:** A poem titled "A Mascot" by Arthur Guiterman celebrating a small dog departing for war. The poem portrays the dog as brave and spirited, departing with soldiers while bringing comfort ("his tongue is a balm to the heart"). **Right side:** An illustration showing a man and woman in early 1900s dress, with dialogue below labeled "Lessons of the War: Or Kultur in America." The woman says she won't leave flowers when abandoning the house; the man responds they can destroy them so "nobody else can have them." The satire appears to mock German militarism ("Kultur") by suggesting American civilians are adopting destructive, scorched-earth tactics. The contrast between the sentimental dog poem and this cynical dialogue critiques how war attitudes were influencing American civilian behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
is Pe MERI, Tansee A ‘Mascot V the glow of their youth they have come, and they pass With the flare of the steel and the Mare of the brass; And the brave litle dog, with a brisk little wag To his stump of a tail, trots along by: the flag At his post in the ranks like the rest of the corps, For the brave little dog is away to the war, “They will go! They will go!" throbs a drum as it nears; There's the fall of a wail in the roar of our cheers.” But the brave little dog is as gay as a is heart in his There is joy, brave little bark As he gambols behind or he frolies before, For the brave little dog is away to the war. He's away to the war. There'll be need of him there— For the stanch little tyke that’s the foe of despair; And there's none that’s so old in the world, or so wise, But may find a new faith in the depth of his eyes, And his tongue is a balm to the heart that is sore; So the brave little dog is away to the war. May the powers be good to the glad little elf, Who is first for his friends and is last for himself; May there still be a bone for his hunger to find, And a pat on the head from a hand that is kind: May the heaven of men keep a wide- open door For the brave little dog that’s away to the war! elrthur Guiterman, LESSONS OF THE WAR Or Kultur in America “OH, RORERT, 1 DO SO HATE TO LEAVE ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS WHEN WE GIVE UP THIS House.” “WELL, ANYHOW, WE CAN DESTROY THEM SO THAT NOBODY FLSE CAN HAVE THEM.”