Life, 1917-10-04 · page 4 of 44
Life — October 4, 1917 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon depicts "Popper Corn"—a personified ear of corn with human limbs—holding an even smaller ear of corn (presumably representing his "son"). The figure addresses his child with optimistic war rhetoric: "My boy, we may win the war." The satire targets American agricultural families' patriotic rhetoric during wartime (likely WWI, given the context). The joke operates on multiple levels: the anthropomorphized corn is ironically promoting patriotic duty while the accompanying text mocks this sentiment, suggesting that even agricultural producers are caught up in wartime propaganda and jingoism. The cartoon suggests that ordinary citizens—symbolized by farming families—are being manipulated into supporting the war effort through appeals to patriotism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Popper Corn: My boy, we may win the war. Thus spoke the head of one of the largest families in America, as, returning home from his trip to Kansas, he warmly greeted his youngest ear. His eldest ear, however, who had remained strangely silent at his feet, said at last: “ Yes, sire, we must give our last kernel. But, meanwhile, by becoming regular subscribers to Lire, and thus keeping continuously cheerful, we shall also be performing a patriotic duty.” Speci “Granted,” said Popper Corn, who had his back turned even 7 Endidsed then to the atrocious coupon in the corner, which gives the sordid 7 yagfi Ore Dol lar (C. figures open to all would-be subscribers. Pee ier ee for ‘three mon Meanwhile, have you sent Open only to new subscribers; no sub- for a copy of Miniature Lire? scriptions renewed at this rate. ae souonly a good fworcent LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York. 10 One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6.04.) comicbookseaim