Life, 1917-09-20 · page 16 of 40
Life — September 20, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct satirical pieces from WWI-era *Life* magazine: 1. **"To Russia's Woman Regiment"**: A poem honoring Russia's female combat unit (the "Legion of Death"), reframing them as a "Legion of Life" for Russia's renewal. This references the actual Russian Women's Battalion of Death, formed in 1917. 2. **"You Can't Teach an Old Dog"**: An allegory where "Number 117"—likely representing a U.S. Senator—attempts to climb a glass hill to win a princess's hand. He repeatedly slips backward, making no progress. The senator justifies his futile method by invoking his seniority and WWI legislative practices. The satire mocks Congressional obstruction and ineffective wartime procedure. 3. **"How to Win the War"** and **"Scriptural Advice"**: Brief cartoons seemingly about military strategy and Prohibition-era hypocrisy (quoting St. Paul to justify wine consumption against prohibition). The page ridicules political inertia and old-guard resistance to change during wartime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
To Russia's Woman Regiment GION OF DEATH" they call you! Your name should be “Legion of Life”— Life for a stricken Russia, Wearied of frenzied strife— Life for the fame of woman, Born to the world anew. “Legion of Death” your title, “Legion of Life” are you! Ruth Lambert Jones You Can’t Teach an Old Dog HE. Princess was seated on the glass hill, watching her ce in order suitors attempt to climb the slippery surf to win her hand. Her attention was particularly drawn to one important- looking suitor with the number 117 on his back. Every time he stepped upward one foot, he slipped back cleven inches, His actions were ludicrous in the extreme, and the Princess was nearly convulsed with merriment. When she had partially regained control of herself, she drew a pencil and paper from her vanity case and made a few calculations. Then she picked up a silver-mounted mega phone and shouted down to the Clerk of the Course, “Send Number 117 home,” she cried that at the rate he is progressing, he can’t pos the top of the hill inside of two hundred and forty-nine years!” Number 117 paused in his labors and mopped his stream- x brow. “Madam,” he protested with some acerbity, CHIEF BLACK-FOOT SUDDENLY COMES UPON LITTLE WILLIE PLAYING INDIAN “LIP E * HOW TO WIN THE WAR have been for some years a United States Senator. I am following our usual method of procedure in all important matters. Haven't you ever heard what we did to important legislation during the Great War? If it’s all the same to you, I'd like to be allowed to do this inn And if it isn't all the same to you, I shall keep right on in my own way, in spite of everything.” So saying, Number 117 stepped one foot forward and slid back eleven inches, while the Princess and all the on- lookers, realizing that he was an odd fish, rocked with y own wa langhter at his antics. “( OOD-BYE, Jack. postals from Germany!" Be sure and send me some picture SCRIPTURAL ADVICE St. Paul (to Prohibitionist) : TAKE A LITTLE WINE FOR THY STOMACHS SAKE DRINK NO MORE WATER, DUT comicbookseamy