Life, 1917-12-13 · page 38 of 40
Life — December 13, 1917 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page blends wartime propaganda with period advertising and fiction. The dominant content is a **Red Cross recruitment drive** urging Americans to purchase $1 memberships, aiming for "ten million new members by Christmas." The service flag graphic (a window display with a cross) signals patriotic home participation in relief work. A smaller section titled **"T-R-E-A-S-O-N"** lists anti-war activities as treasonous—talking against the draft, criticizing the executive, aiding enemy sympathizers—reflecting intense WWI-era intolerance of dissent. This appears designed to shame potential war critics. The fictional narrative "Her Side of It" depicts Earth herself as exhausted by quarreling "children" (nations), offering satirical commentary on global conflict through personification. A Carmen Complexion Powder advertisement occupies the upper left, typical period marketing unrelated to the page's political content. The overall message: American citizens should financially support the Red Cross and suppress anti-war sentiment as patriotic duty during the First World War.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
pDainty! Charming! user of Carmen Complexion Powder is one ‘of the Occasi ‘A touch of Carmen cy her abeactifol, re- gaedjatrleinccorpeaton which tes he wamnong OUser women ‘unetive CARMEN EN Complexion POWDER Fs Bergen STAFFORD-MILLER CO., St. Louis, Mo, T-R-E-A-S-O-N Talking against the drafT Repudiating the waR Execrating the executivE Aiding the foes of AmericA Slobbering over conscientious objectorS Opposing all Do and GO Neutralizing patriotic actioN Her Side of It SUDDENLY found myself slipping away, but had presence of mind cnough to roll into my sky-plane and grasp the wher So instead of falling in the old way, I soared gracefully down over the new ar highway until I almost bumped into old Mother Earth, She was seated on her axis, knitting. I had“always understood that she was such a cheerful, friendly old soul that I stopped the motor, and raised my hat. “Tf you don't mind (smiling), I will give myself the pleasure of a little visit while the engine cools off.” “Humph! a meteor,” she grunted, eyeing me sharply over her spectacles “You are fortunate. I have no time to waste on visiting. I am just saving mysclf—what little there is left of me —for my family to quarrel over. she continued, biting off her “Tama very efficient old per- “Old! Pshaw, you don’t look a year over three thousand,” [ protested. I had heard that the world loved flat- tery. She acknowledged the compliment by shrugging her shoulders. ball ea “But you have a large family,” T persisted. “Your children must be a great comfort to you.” “Comfort—comfort, did you say? Why, they haven’t given me a mo- ment’s peace since I sat down here, and that is longer, young man, than you can remember. I don't believe you ever met William. Comfort, fiddle- sticks!” A Service Flag for every Family to make this a RED CROSS Christmas of Mercy N this, our country’s first Christ- mas, in the most terrible of all wars, there should be a Red Cross Service Flag in millions—fifteen millions—of homes at least. When your member- What is Your American Red Cross? fill this whole maga- ship dollar is sent on An all American, largely volunteer zine—go to your local its errand of mercy, a | {EtG'tunering mankind-intimes or | Red Cross chapter— work of relief, which is peace asin times of war, have your rightful le wor ay, 1S The War Department audits its Christmas spirit is the aided. accounts. Your Red Cross does butions. Join the Red Cross now—start your $1 on its errand of mercy. Be a member—it is your right Ten Million New Members by Christmas Pershing ir France approves it. s Itis working for your Army-your pas 4 not ask you at this Navy—yoar Allies, America’s Christmas time for large contri- It is working for you gift to our boys and “You do seem to be having a world of trouble,” I sympathized. Perhaps you have been too indulgent, or—er— by the way, to what planet were you affanced after your own meon grew cold? That might help to explain why your children seem so—er—er—” “Mars!” snapped the old Earth, and went 6n with her knitting. W. FR, Here is a Red Cross Service Flag that will be in the windows of millions of American homes this Christmas. It mast be in yours your service fag witha little cross for every member of your household. The nearest Red Cross chapter will give you your flag—it goes with every one dollar membership. It asks you to become part of it. Your Red Cross asks you to be one of ten million more Americans to give one dollar toward world relief. The merest outline of Red Cross work could Red Cross spirit. Let a greater Red Cross be our Allies. The Poblishers of Life have donated this space to the American Red Cross in the belief that its readers will heartily respond PETER J. CAREY, PRINTER comicbooks.comy