Life, 1918-01-17 · page 28 of 40
Life — January 17, 1918 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces critiquing WWI-era American institutions: **Top Section:** Life publishes a letter from the Maryland Anti-Vivisection Society attacking the Red Cross for allegedly funding animal experimentation, arguing resources should instead aid wounded soldiers and civilians in war-torn regions (Armenia, Romania, Poland, Belgium, France). Life sides with the critics, suggesting the Red Cross is damaging its own reputation. **Bottom Section ("Patriots Who Protect Their Patrons"):** This is biting satire of New York hotel and restaurant owners who claim to support food conservation and protect customers from "foolish extravagance" by fixing menu prices—then charge exorbitant fees for items like water, bread, and air ("Air for breathing"). The joke: these "patriots" exploit patriotism to maintain wartime profits while appearing virtuous. Items marked with asterisks are apparently complimentary, highlighting the absurdity of what's actually paid versus free. Both pieces mock hypocrisy: institutions claiming patriotic sacrifice while advancing their own interests.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
108 And There Are Others The members of the Maryland Anti-Vivisection Society are not slackers; we are patriotic men and women, ready to do our share and to cheerfully bear our portion of sac- rifice in these perilous times, but in future we will seck avenues other than the Red Cross through which to labor for our soldiers and our country Investi tient creatures in order to discover that food, clothing and shelter will save thousands of lives in Armeni Rumania, Poland, Belgium and Nor- thern France ; no expensively equipped laboratory is needed to seck out wounded: soldiers on the battle- fields and give them comfort and treatment in hospitals; and it will cause deep sorrow among innumer- able contributors to know that the Red Cross is going beyond the activi- ties of its charter rights and is sup- porting a cruel and disputed form of medical experimentation —From a letter from the Maryland Anti- isection Society to the National Anti-Vivisection Federation, tors need not torture sen- HIS letter expresses the feelings of millions of patriotic American men and women. We doubt if the Red Cross—other- wise a benevolent institution—could have found a surer way of impairing its usefulness. SOME GERMANS ARE NOT STARVING Patriots Who Protect Their Patrons ELPING in the great cause of patriotism and food conserva- tion, the hotel men and restaurant keepers of New York City have agreed upon the following prices on their bills-of-fare. To aid in the promotion of national thrift and to protect patrons against their own foolish extravagance, it is guaranteed that these Prices will not be increased during the con- tinuance of the war. Couvert (per person) .. Bread, any color except white (per person) sec teeeseneees Bread or rolls, white (per person). Butter (per person) Oleomargarine (per person) Water, plain (per person)... Water, iced (per person)... *Air for breathing Air, hot, from headwaiter (per person) Air, hot, from proprietor (per person) , small lump, glucose varicty.. e lump, glucose variety ne or beet, per hump... Finger bowl, damp (per person)... sess tS Finger bowl, with water.....00.00.00c0ecc0eee 8S Naphin (per person) ..... sae 20 #Camouflage .. 0... eee veveeeeeces 80 Checking hats and coats (per person).......... 1.00 All prices, except those marked *, are strictly per person. Patrons are requested not to tip the hat-check boys Any civility on the part of the waiters or other employees should be reported to the desk. HE Gist. is tHe Airptane Besioe Him: WI matter, Henr: Tue Pitot: We are two thousand feet up, and I have stalled my engine. Tue Girt: Inconsiderate beast! Now T suppose you will have to get out before the whole city and crank it, is the