Life, 1918-01-17 · page 24 of 40
Life — January 17, 1918 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1917 *Life* magazine page contains WWI-era satire: **"A Lost Aviator"**: A tribute poem to Georges Guynemer, a famous French fighter pilot who died in September 1917. The text celebrates him as a heroic, idealistic young man who sacrificed himself for France during the war. **"Airplane Possibilities of the Future"**: Satirical predictions mixing mundane uses (taking dates, visiting relatives) with dark military applications (dropping gas bombs on rivals' homes)—reflecting contemporary anxiety about aviation's weaponization. **"The ABC of Kultur"**: Anti-German propaganda cartoons. "Kultur" (German culture) is depicted as arrogant ignorance. The "Y" shows a Yankee outsmarting a pompous German; the "Z" references Zeppelins (German airships used in bombing raids). **"Doings Down in Foodville"**: Personified foods (Ham, Eggs, Sugar, Coffee) reflect WWI rationing and food shortages affecting American civilians. **The dog joke**: Satirizes American ethnic stereotypes through a mongrel dog described by multiple national origins—a common period humor trope.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Lost Aviator George Guynemer, September, tor7 WINGED pilot of ethereal seas, Mong uncharted ways beyond our sight, Companioned by glad things of wind and light, He sailed afar on strange discoveries Of untold heights; mounted with happy ease Beyond the realms of cloud that glimmered bright, Where high gods beckoned through the infinite, Pointing his path to newer destinies His was the great heart of Eternal Youth, Stirred by the call of venture and romance To consecrate, with no least touch of ruth, His knightly all to freedom and to France: A less warrior in the lists of truth— A herald of a world’s deliverane Charlotte Becker. Airplane Possibilities of the Future 'AKING prospective buyers out for a demonstration spin in the clouds. Motoring to the Philippines for a week-end. Sighting the approach of the subscription solicitor. Taking your girl out for a bird's-eye view of bungalow sites. Dropping gas bombs on your rival’s home Seeing the World Series free. The trans-continental jitneyplane. Ghost: Mow We MAJOR-GENERALS Wave CHANGED! The A BC of Kultur == % j Doings Down in Foodville T is rumored that the well-known partnership of Ham and Eggs is to be dissolved. They are rarely seen to- gether now. Miss Sugar has gone. into temporary seclusion. Her return is looked for- ward to with interest. Among the season's débutantes are Miss War Bread and Miss Rice. The latter has been known informally for some time. It is hinted that Mr. Coffee will soon bow to fashion and take apartments in the Skyhigh. Recognition comes at last. Doe. Cornmeal, once despised, is being in- sands for Vankes— an stands for Zeppelin, ‘ited everywhere these days Ignorant Bumpkin, sailing on High — A Gullible Goose with With Seraphs and Be: Want to buy a dog, mister? the Brain of a Pumpkin Cherubim up in the sky. Man: What kind of a dog? Approached with a Smile Beatific So be a Good Baby and ‘do as Boy: Oh, he's a winner, all right! and Bland, you Should; He's part Irish terrier, part English The Poor Ignoramus will Eat The Zepp’s sure to get you un- bull, part’ French poodle and part from your hand. less you are Good. Italian greyhound !