Life, 1917-11-08 · page 27 of 40
Life — November 8, 1917 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon:** A sketch shows two figures on a ship's deck discussing ancestry. The caption reads: "Most of my ancestors were in the government service" / "Really! One went in for shipping." This appears to be a gentle social satire about class pretension—suggesting someone boasting of respectable government lineage while their relative was actually engaged in less prestigious commercial work. **Primary Article:** Life criticizes trustees of the Gilbert Trust Fund (held by named Connecticut gentlemen) for withholding income intended for Life's Fresh Air Farm—a children's charitable organization. Since December 1910, over $10,000 has accumulated but not been distributed as the donor specified. Life's tone is scathing: the trustees may find this "amusing," but the joke harms poor children the deceased Mr. Gilbert meant to help. **Secondary Section:** A satirical open letter to Germany's Emperor regarding peace proposals, treating his rejection of terms with mock-formal courtesy. The page reflects Life's role as both satirical entertainer and social watchdog, exposing trustee malfeasance affecting vulnerable children.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ MOST OF MY ANCESTORS WERE IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE” “REALLY! The Joke Is on the Fresh Air Children IFE has been inclined to take rather seriously the fact that the income of the Gilbert Trust fund, held by Daviy H. Minter of Georgetown, Connecticut ; Daniet Davenport of Bridgeport, Connecticut ; Dr. R. W. Lowe of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and certain relatives and employces of Mr. Miller as trus- tees, has not been turned over by these gentlemen to the work at Lire’s Fresh Air Farm. They may regard the whole thing as a joke, but, if so, the joke is too subtle for Lire’s comprehension. Here are the facts. In his will Mr. Gilbert left the trust with these instructions: * The income and dividends thereof to be used for the maintenance of the work carried on at Lire’s Farm.” The accumulations since December, 1910, amount to considerably more than ten thousand dollars Lire's Fresh Air Fund has repeatedly, but in vain, requested that the income be devoted to the purpose for which Mr. Gilbert intended it. Under the laws of Connecticut these NE WENT IN FOR SHIPPING” requests cannot be enforced. Lawyers who may think the Connecticut laws unusual in this particular will find them interpreted in an opinion of Judge Gager of the Superior Court dated July 17, 1917. The gentlemen named above may find something amusing and humorous in hanging on to this mone: If so, the laugh is on the deceased Mr. Gilbert and the poor children he meant to help. Merely a Suggestion T is with regret that the Emperor of Germany is obliged to return the enclosed peace terms desires to thank the author for submitting them, and to tfter he In doing so he express his hope that other propositions may her forthcoming from the same pen. The Emperor feels sure that the author will understand, where so many proposi- tions are constantly being received, and where the demands of Germany are necessarily so arbitrary, that only that proposal can be retained which is peculiarly suited to Germany's needs. comicbooks.com