Life, 1918-01-24 · page 39 of 40
Life — January 24, 1918 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page primarily advertises **"The Diary of a Nation,"** a book of war editorials by Edward S. Martin, editor of *Life* magazine. The upper section compiles positive reviews from major newspapers (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, London, Grand Rapids) praising Martin's balanced, unsentimental commentary on America's entry into World War I. The reviews emphasize Martin's even-handedness—he's described as "neither pacifist nor jingo," offering "representative American opinion" without excessive emotion ("slop"). The comparisons to James Russell Lowell and British *Punch* establish *Life's* legitimacy as serious editorial commentary despite being "a comic paper." Below are three **Life Prints** for sale: sentimental domestic scenes ("After The Battle," "The Boy Who Became a Lawyer," "Target Practice"), unrelated to the book's war focus—these appear to be standard product offerings. The page itself is primarily **promotional/advertising content** rather than satire or political commentary, showcasing *Life's* authority on war commentary circa 1919.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Diary of a Nation War Editorials from LIFE By EDWARD S. MARTIN What the Reviewers say about it: From the Boston Transcript: An American product is Lire, just as Punch is a fruit of Great Britain’s national existence. It has assumed a semi-political rank during the last three years through its Yankee freedom of critical, sometimes caustic, speech when reflecting upon our part, or former lack of part in the war. Mr. Martin has come near to being the James Russell Lowell of the day, in his frequent comments on the conflict in its many kaleidoscopic variations, comments that have stood pat with the sensations and sympathies of thousands of staunch Americans. He has been the able mouthpiece of a multitude. One of the best of the selections in “ The Diary of a Nation” is that on England's bulldog grip, * Hold On, John Bull!” a three page compressed statement of all the best instinets of our kinship with Great Britain. From the New York Evening Post: A sort of literary motion-picture—a progressive por- trayal of the development of American sentiment in re- sponse to the development of the conflict. From the Philadelphia /ugquirer: This is one of the few war books to be kept for all time. From the London Spectator: These articles from New York Lire stand for a type of editorial comment for which there is no parallel in British journalism—unconventional, colloquial, but trenchant and often intensely serious, though appearing in what is nomi- nally a comic paper. There is hardly a page that does not invite quotation From the Boston Herald: Neither pacifist nor jingo, Mr. Martin has nely summed up the war from week to week. Those who do not agree with him in this or that pronouncement will at least grant that he does not “ slop over.” His leaders on developments of the war from the first German rush into 3elgium to the time of this country’s entry as a belligerent are pointed expression of representative American opinion. From the Grand Rapids Press: It does not matter so much that Mr. Martin is an editor of the widely-known humorous weekly called Lire. It matters a great deal that he is the sanest, least prejudiced and frankest of the country’s editorial writers. These qualities, tempered with a kindly, whimsical humor and a fine sense of proportion, have made “ The Diary of a Nation” something that we like to regard as typically American. It is really the story of the great war and how we got into it as shown by extracts from the editorial page of Lire during the last three years. It is a worth- while book Published by Doubleday, Page & Co., New York, $1.50. Life Prints Copr. Life Pub. Co. Copr. Life Pub, Co. After The Battle Printed in colors on fine Bristol and plate-marked. Price plate-marked Price The Boy Who Became a Lawyer Printed in colors on fine Bristol and Copr. Life Pub, Co, Target Practice Printed in colors on fine Bristol and plate-marked. Size 12x16 inches Size 12x16 inches Price 25 cents cents Shipped prepaid to any address on receipt of remittance IFE PUBLISHING CO., 17 West 31st St., New York PETER J. CAREY, PRINTER comicbooks.com