Life, 1917-11-08 · page 16 of 40
Life — November 8, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This WWI-era satirical page contains multiple pieces targeting wartime attitudes and profiteering: **"Treason" poem**: A father humorously laments his toddler preferring a toy lamb to his attention—gentle domestic satire about parental neglect dressed up as mock-serious patriotic language. **"Returns Coming In"**: Brief commentary on Allied soldiers being welcomed in France and England, sardonically suggesting the war's stated purpose is promoting international goodwill, though Germany's slow "installment" on peace suggests cynicism about actual progress. **"Excess Profits"**: Mocks wartime price-gouging—a shopkeeper marks up cheap lamp shades 667% by adding patriotic ribbon and relabeling them as "war goods." **Bottom cartoon**: Shows a child presenting savings to his mother, titled "Don't Feed the Animals"—appears to criticize wasteful consumer spending during wartime. **"War-time Hints for Women"**: Prescriptive wartime messaging directing women toward food conservation, knitting, and sacrifice, reflecting government mobilization efforts. The page collectively critiques profiteering, consumerism, and propaganda while supporting the war effort itself.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
748 Treason SHALL I, because her eyes are blue, Because no sweeter little maid Has ever reached the age of two, Forbear to chide the renegade? What toys, what doliies, nude or dressed, What dainties have I failed to bring? More! at her infantile behest Have I not even dared to sing? But now she scorns my sportive wiles, My tricks and games. Do what I may, An alien lure her heart beguiles, She turns her smiles another way. She leaves me—oh, the sad default !— For what?—A paltry woolly lamb !— Small traitor to her bread and salt, Yea, even to her cake and jam! Arthur Guiterman Returns Coming In RANCE seems to like our soldiers. London liked them. The purpose of this war against war is to make everybody like everybody else. The accomplishment of that pur- pose is coming on the instalment plan. There is delay about the German in- stalment, but France and England are delivering theirs. Excess Profits EW CLERK: What's the price of these lamp shades? Proprietor: A dollar fifty, but run some red, white and blue ribbon through them and mark them ten dol- lars. “LOOK, MOTHER, WHAT I SAVED UP AN’ BOUGHT FOR YOUR BirTHDAY |” DON'T FEED THE ANIMALS War-time Hints for Women TERNAL vegetable-canning is the price of winter plenty. It's never too late to send gifts to the boys at the front. An ounce of sacrifice is worth a pound of knitting. Take care of the left-overs and the food supply will take care of itself. Where there's a will there should be a bequest for war orphans. Be among the first by whom new economical recipes are tried, and be the last to set the cook-book aside. The wastefulness of the women shall be visited on the nation, A place for every woman, and every woman in her place. When in doubt, consult your local chapter of the Red Cross. Help and the girls help with you, loaf and you loaf alone.