Life, 1918-02-07 · page 37 of 40
Life — February 7, 1918 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical poetry, advertising, and a cartoon commentary on Prohibition. **The Poetry**: "The Red-Tape Worm" by Arthur Guiterman is a scathing allegory attacking bureaucratic obstruction. The "worm" represents government red tape and procedural delays that kill ambition, paralyze action, and corrupt institutions. It's a call for heroic action to cut through this suffocating bureaucracy. **The Cartoon**: Titled "Evolution of a Prohibitionist," the three figures at bottom likely show the moral "progression" of someone supporting Prohibition—appearing increasingly worn, depleted, and desperate. This satirizes Prohibitionists as hypocrites or mentally/physically deteriorating zealots. The cartoon mocks the Prohibition movement that was active during Life's publication period. **The Advertising**: Tiffany & Co. jewelry and Luden's cough drops occupy much of the page—standard commercial content. The overall message: bureaucracy strangles progress, and Prohibition advocates are portrayed as misguided extremists.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: _ 27 N The Red-Tape Worm p H, the Red-Tape Worm is a Loath- \s he gloats on his daily ration; And he makes his lair and he takes his feast In the Cave of Procrastination! ES ly bea relies y beast mint m4 es Where the frosty glare of his eye con- R geals ‘Tis the death of the best ambitions. IFFAN Y & O He is proud and strong in Official Seals ° And in Forms and in Requisitions : p Werkd And he feeds him full on the Gold of Time, And he moves men’s souls to faction, And he clogs men’s minds with his JEWELRY AND SILVERWARE deathly slime, And he palsies the Arm of Action. » “i . Let the Hero ride! May his heart be A STOCK UNIQUE IN _ — SCOPE, QUALITY AND VALUE When he strikes for our liberation! May he pierce the gorge of the Red- is Tape Worm To the cheers of a ransomed Nation! Arthur Guiterman, She Never Crowed “That confounded rooster next door me with his crowing,” said the hus ina ony te tao FirtH AVENUE & 37 “STREET he kept on crowing for half an hou = Well.” pat in the wife, who knew New YORK what she was ta PURCHASES MAY BE MADE BY MAIL wok band with a yawn. ing about, “to succeed in waking you up is worth crowing about.”"—Vonkers Statesman, ee a a Motorists who are LUDEN“ites dont mind the other Fellow! dust Just dissolve a Luden or two on the tongue. Parched throat, or dusteirri- tated alr passages are refreshed and cleared. Give quick relief, Ludensites are people who keep nose, throat and air passages in a more healthful condi- thon. Are you a Luden- Luden's Yellow Sanitary Package—- CLI MENTHOL CANDY- = ~ Z COUGH GZ DROPS if mf oo—— | F OLUTION OF A PROHIBITIONIST Comicbooks.com