Life, 1917-11-01 · page 33 of 38
Life — November 1, 1917 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page, from a WWI-era *Life* magazine, contains satirical and advertising content. **"The Christian Soldier" Poem:** This is sharp anti-war satire by K. B. Lewis, mocking the hypocrisy of religious justification for violence. It presents a soldier claiming Christian virtue while shooting, stabbing, and choking enemies—all while praying for their souls and expressing no ill-will. The jarring contrast between violent actions (Bang! Crack! Kick!) and pious sentiments exposes the absurdity of reconciling warfare with Christian morality. The epigraph attributes the original sentiment to Rev. William M. Gilbert of Boston, suggesting this critiques actual religious arguments used to sanitize combat. **Advertisements:** The page features standard WWI-era ads for Havone cigarette cases (marketed to soldiers "over there") and W. L. Douglas shoes, emphasizing affordability and quality. **"The Impartial Referee" Cartoon:** A boxing match scene illustrates the page's advertising, unrelated to the satirical content above. The page's juxtaposition—brutal anti-war satire alongside patriotic soldier-targeted advertising—reflects *Life*'s dual role as both satirical commentary and commercial publication during wartime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nara read BLE! ltars, , Ul, The Christian Soldier The war should not be fought with vengeance. I could aim my gun to kill in the fight, and sing a hymn while doing so. I could immediately kneel and with all the tenderness at my command relieve the suffering of the man I had wounded.—Rev, Wil- liam M. Gilbert of Boston. — DO not wish to hurt you, But (Bang!) I feel I must; It is a Christian virtue To lay you in the dust. You—(Zip! That bullet got you!) You're really better dead. (I'm sorry that I shot you— Pray, let me hold your head.) But do not think I hate you (Crack! Bang!) because I kill; Though (Biff!) I lacerate you I bear you no ill-will. If (Kick! Kick! Kick!) I choke you, A bandage I will roll; And, trusting this will croak you, I'll pray for (Boom!) your soul. K. B. Lewis. Recommendation MY husband takes some of your magazine regularly. Theboy you know “over there’ will welcome a Havone Cigarette Case to keep his precious smokes safe and unbroken. ‘Therearenocasu- alties” among ciga- tettes carried in the VONE —every onestanding at ‘ten- tion in its own sep- arate compartment, and ready tor action. The cigarettes are held so lightly that one may be taken with the lips if his hands are soiled. Havone Cigarette Cases are made in heavy Silver- plate, in Solid Sterling and 14K Gold. The sil- ver-plated cases at $5 are especially popular. If ler hasn't stocked up on the E, send us $5 and we will mail you one direct—cither plain finished, or with monogram spot, or one of the all-over pat- terns, — your name on a post- card for. ‘one of our il- Lock for the Havene mark wemped inside the case FACIORY. SHOWING THE 30X60 F1 ROOM lntenag Joby 6. CAUTION—Be sure the price stamped on the bottom has not been erased or raised. Copyright, W. L. Douglas Shoe Co. Ra THE PRESENT W.L.DOUGLAS eer eared Mass worn: ers SKILLED SHOEMAKERS ARE EMPLOYED. L. DOUGLAS “ THE SHOE THAT HOLDS ITS SHAPE” $3, $350 $4 $4.50 $5 $6 $7 **8 You Can Save Money by Wearing 7 W. L. Douglas Shoes. The Best a ( Known Shoes in the World. 3/ W: L. Douglas name and the retail price « is stamped on the bottom of every pair of shoes at the factory. The value is guar- anteed and the wearer protected against high prices for inferior shoes. The retail prices are the same everywhere. They cost no more in San Francisco than they do in New York. They are always worth the price paid for them. The quality of W. L.Douglas product is guaranteed by morethan 40years t/ experience in making fine shoes. The Best la tbeWortd smart styles are the leaders in the fashion $3 $2.50 $2 centresof America. Theyare made ina well-equipped factory at Brockton, Mass.,by the highest paid, skilled shoemakers, under the direction and supervision of experienced men, all working with an honest determination to make the best shoes forthe price thatmoney canbuy. peware OF FRAUD. None genuine untess W. L. Dougtas name and the retail price is stamped onthe bottom, TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE For sale by over 9000 shoe dealers and 105 W. L. Douglas stores in the large cities. If not convenient to call at Douglas store, ask your local dealer for W. L. Doug! If he cannot supply you, take no other make. Write for booklet, showing how to order shoes by mail, po: BOYS SHOES, THE IMPARTIAL REFEREE comicbooks.com