Life, 1917-10-18 · page 31 of 40
Life — October 18, 1917 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents two distinct satirical pieces from Life magazine (likely WWI-era, given the "Service" references): **Left side ("Poisonous Gas"):** A mock-biblical parable mocking an import businessman who considers himself patriotic. The joke: he brings foreign goods into America, then federal food safety inspectors and customs officers deliberately delay his shipments through bureaucratic obstruction ("Mañana"), claiming revenge against "Hester Street and Fifth Avenue" merchants (a coded reference to Jewish immigrant traders). The satire targets both the self-important importer's hollow patriotism AND government corruption—workers playing golf while sabotaging commerce under pretense of regulation. **Right side:** A Whitman's Chocolates advertisement patriotically marketing gift boxes "for the men in the Service" (soldiers/sailors), with accompanying caution about Life magazine's legitimate circulation practices. The juxtaposition is ironic: while the left page ridicules fake patriotic commerce, the right page exemplifies genuine wartime commercial patriotism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
n his Sof 1 the ch is by he re tic es, s, € POISONOUS GAS Cheapskates HERE was a certain man of the Gothamites whose business it was to import goods. And he praised himself with much valor and said, Truly am Ia patriot, because Tam engaged in the business of bringing into mine own country the things which mine own countrymen most desire. And he loved his country because he was enabled to live in it and keep up his end. And he rejoiced modestly. And others there were who regarded him as the na- tion's bulwark. And while the Gothamite reckoned with himself, there came the pure food men and the custom-house officers. And the pure food men decreed that every- thing which the man brought in should CAUTION: LIFE employs no direct travel- ling representatives; it does not offer prizes, college courses or other in- ducements for agents to canvass for subscriptions. Anyone soliciting subscriptions on any such basis should be turned over to the author ities as a swindler. Be sure to place your order with a reliable bookseller, news agent or solicitor, if you do not mail it to LIFE direct. ‘ ; er ea er eT LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY 17 West 31st Street, New York the men in the Service ° Service Chocolates | with a good book Nothing is too good for the boys at the front or in training camps. I Soldiers and sailors too will appreciate that Whitman’s Service Choco- lates are packed especially for them. The chocolates are the same as in our famous and successful college assortment, with a few changes to adapt ) them for camp and ship-board. H The books are such as would be chosen by the most intelligent army the world has | ever seen—such authors as Kipling, Stevenson, De Maupassant, Conan Doyle, Barrie, | Hugo, Dumas and the standard poets and prose writers of all countries. | The Service Box works both ways. Home folks buy it to send to the boys. The boys in training camps buy it to send to the girls back home as a souvenir of the service. The lid shows in gold relief the insignia of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps and the various branches of the service. Only those selected stores that sell the Whitman candies supply the Service Chocolates, but there is one of these stores almost everywhere. They will care of the mailing for you, in a special safe carton. If you do not know your local Whitman's agent, send a dollar and parcels postage to us, with the name and address of the soldier or sailor and we will see to the safe delivery of a Service Package, Stephen F. Whitman & Son, Inc., Philadelphia, U. S. A. Makers of Whitman's Instantaneous Chocolate, Cocoa and Marshmallow Whip ness and calling himself an American citizen shall henceforth be considered a thief and a blackleg and shall be treated like a common blackguard And the government considered not that these men they employed were of the tribe of Cheapskates, Gothamite who imported things was an asset and so they said: “Go to it.” And the man was buried ——— ee be kept on the wharves while the man storage upon it, until they saw fit to examine it and pass upon it and issue their certificates. And when they were asked concerning it they said: “ Ma nana,” which means, “I ama government employee.” And they went off and had exceeding social times among themselves. and played golf and rode in autos. And the custom-house men said: * Because whereas the and caused certain men of the tribe of Hester Street and Fifth Avenue have done us in the past, we decree that everyman doing busi- to be put over his grave “Twas a patriot and they took me in. TM never love another country.” comicbooks.com