Life, 1917-10-11 · page 16 of 40
Life — October 11, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece uses hell as a metaphor to mock American pacifists and anti-war activists during World War I. The historical Benedict Arnold—the American Revolutionary traitor—complains to Satan that his name is now being applied to contemporary figures opposing the war: U.S. Senators, peace societies, and the I.W.W. (Industrial Workers of the World, a radical labor organization). The satire's point: the author views these anti-war activists as far worse traitors than Arnold himself. Arnold claims he at least sacrificed for his country before betraying it, whereas these modern "traitors" actively undermine the war effort without comparable service. Satan, moved by Arnold's anguish, orders him special comforts—a dark joke suggesting even hell sympathizes with Arnold's complaint. The piece reflects pro-war sentiment and hostility toward domestic anti-war movements during WWI, portraying pacifists as comparable to history's greatest American traitor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
584 The Frenzy of Benedict Amold FLROUGH the w palace in Hades came a terrific up- Tt was so violent that it cracked lows of the royal roar. the brimstone caused His Satanic Ma from the walls and sty’s red-hot couch to shiver and sh This was very annoying to His Majesty, who was earnestly endeavoring to snatch a few hours’ rest after a hard night spent in receiving Germans from the devastated districts of France. Lashing his tail from side to side in a frenzy of rage, His Majesty seized the nearest pitchfork and rushed from the palace with the intention of se- verely punishing the person or persons responsible for the uproar. He had scarcely rounded the corner when he encountered the source of all the noise. It was Benedict Ar- nold, and he was rolling around on the ground, biting huge chunks out of the hot lava pavement, and screaming at the top of his lungs with angry pas- sion. Around him stood a number his friends, wailing and moaning syev pathetically. Simulating calmness, His Ma hid his pitchfork behind his smiled disarmingly. “ Why, Ben said he. “ What's all thi you're not discontented, are you?” Ceasing his screaming, Arnold sat up and gazed despairingly at His Ma- jesty out of pain-filled eyes. “Hearken, Your Majest: he cried “To-day I have spoken with new- comers from America, and they have told me that the soft-paunched, lily- livered, white-skinned traitors in’ the United States Senate and the peace societies and the I. W. W. are being called Benedict Arnolds. They, the dogs, are being compared with me, who endured untold hardships, gave the best years of my life, devoted my fortune and spilled quarts of my blood for my country, and whose only traitorous act was committed in a storm of despond- ency brought about by years of con- gressional abuse, countless unmerited rebukes and repeatedly deferred re- ds. Your Majesty, it is more than IT can endure!” With a scream of anguish, Benedict Arnold again flung himself flat on the lava pavement and gnawed at it fero- first esty AND IF LTAKE THE JOB I'M TO GET A RAISE IN SALARY E ES, PROVIDED, OF COURSE, TILAT YOUR WORK 1 E THOUGHT THERE WAS A CATCH SoMEWILERE.” “Ant while his friends resumed their sympathetic moaning, His Majesty's softened, Swinging his pitchfork care- cross his shoulder, he signalled saturnine features lessly to a near-by devil want you to do all you can for Benedict Arnold,” he ordered. “ The poor chap has had a terrific blow. Let him have two extra asbestos blankets on his bed to-night, and give him a sulphuric-acid cocktail with his dinner. If there's anything else he wants, sce SATISFACTORY.” that he gets it. His sufferings must beat hell!” Sighing heavily, His turned hack toward his palace, nating the while on the super-hellish cruelty of which the human race i frequently capable. Keuneth 1, Roberts. nic Majesty rumi S (dolefully): My Jack cares so little for money that we fear he will marry to suit himself! brother