Life, 1918-01-31 · page 7 of 40
Life — January 31, 1918 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a poem by M.A. DeWolfe Howe celebrating sailors' wartime contributions. The illustrated scene shows a woman and sailor in domestic conversation by a window, with a caption indicating discussion of cross-water military engagement. The poem romanticizes the sailor as a defender of national interest, referencing "the stealthy, murderous German 'fish'" (submarines) and praising sailors who "shield the world from harm." The dialogue below discusses Mrs. Pilkins' quarrelsomeness and mentions Petrograd (Russia), suggesting this was written during WWI when naval warfare and Russian politics were current events. The decorative header shows soldiers attacking fortifications, reinforcing martial themes. The overall message glorifies military service and sacrifice during wartime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Sailor-Man LIKE the look of ki of army wear, And the men of mettle sporting it, at home and over there; But there’s something at the heart- strings that tautens when I mect A blue-clad sailor-man adrift, shore-leave from the fleet. i and the cut on From flapping togs his sea-legs win some tinge of old romance That's proper to the keeper of the paths that lead to France; For what were all the soldiers worth that ever tossed a gun ‘ Without the ships and sailor-men to pit them 'gainst the Hun! There's sunlight now and steady ground beneath the sailor's tread, And every pleasure beckons him, and every snare is spread— Speed well this visitor, whose home "twixt heaving decks is set, Whose playmates are the darkness, and the bitter cold, and wet! His comrades these; his foe is ours, the foe of law and right, The stealthy, murderous German “fish,” that prowls and kills by night; And none may sink him where he swims, flouting God's age-built plan, None but the guardian of us all, the rolling sailor-man. His hands are often cruel cold; his heart is oftener warm, For in its depths he knows ‘tis he that shields the world from harm; Because I know it too, my heart beats warmer when I meet A Dlue-clad sailor-man adrift, shore-leave from the fleet. M. A. DeWolfe on Howe. “YOU ARE GOING TO CROSS WATER AND EN WILL PROVE AT makes you think that Mrs, Pilkins is quarrelsome?” “Well, I heard Pilkins say he was going to Petrograd to get rested up.” IN AN UNDERTAKING WHICH SUCCESSFUL” “NY/JELL, your state is dry now, I see.” “Yes, When want any whiskey we have to depend on local talent.” we comicbooks.com