Life, 1918-02-07 · page 39 of 40
Life — February 7, 1918 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three revised Aesop's fables satirizing American politics during World War I: **"The Two Crabs"** mocks Senate hypocrisy: the Senate Crab criticizes the Ordnance Department for poor "progress" (likely military preparedness), but when challenged to remove Senator La Follette (a prominent anti-war isolationist), refuses—exposing the Senate's own contradictions. **"The Pacifist and the Bitter-Ender"** ridicules pacifist arguments. The Pacifist uses German-authored books proving Germany's military superiority to argue for peace; the Bitter-Ender dismisses this by noting the books are "made by Germans"—propaganda, not truth. **"The Lion's Share"** allegorizes WWI's aftermath: Germany (the Lion) and Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey (other Central Powers) hunt together, but Germany seizes all spoils, leaving weaker allies (the Fox) with nothing—predicting post-war resentment. The page primarily advertises novelist John Ames Mitchell's book *Drowsy* below these fables.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Aesop's Fables Revised The Two Crabs | O E fine day the Ordnance Depart ment Crab and the Senate C1 came out from their home to exercise their flabby muscles.“ Child,” said the Senate Crab, “you are progressing very clumsily. You should accustom yourself to walking straight forward without twisting from side to side “Pray, mother,” said the Ordna Department Crab, “do but set the ex- ample yourself by ejecting La Follette and I will follow you.” ce A Pacifist and a Bitter-Ender were discussing the relative advantages of an immediate peace and a continuation of the struggle. The, Pacifist contended that Germany was so strong, by. rea- There’s love that overcomes all obstacles in son of her greater military genivs, that she was undefeatable, “Come now with me,” he cried, “and [will soon t prove that I am right.” So he took him to a public library and showed him a number of books which proved con- clusively that Germany was the great- over est thing on earth from a military the new novel by John Ames Mitchell, author of “The Pines of Lory,” ‘‘Amos Judd,” ete. And love is the touchstone that awakens the it can standpoint : “That is all very well,” said the hero to his remarkable inherited powers. His | who Bitter-Ender, “but proves nothing, for ade vould. Fead- ike a faiey: tale ia, atv to he the books were made by Germans” adventures would read like a fairy tale in any n, ity We can easily represent things as other age than our own. But modern folk have iJ ish them to be. learned that yesterday’s fairy tales are to- rrent The Lion's Share . iti The Germa ieonee 2 morrow’s realities. war. he German Lion went once a-hunt- . “ . ing along with the Austrian Fox, the Published by Stokes. Sent upon receipt of quarts Bulgarian J and the Turkish $1.50. Remit to Lire Pusrtisuinc Company, aan, 17 West 31st Street, New York City. jonth= fronts ier! { Z The Opportunist: KIN 1 riay wien 4 | your BE WANTIN’ IT FER A WHILE, PRRY-HOKSE, WILLE? yeu WON'T Wolf. They hunted and they hunted share comes to me for my part in the till at last they surprised a Stag, and id as for the fourth quarter, soon took its life. Then came the for that, I should like to see question how the spoil should be di- which of you will dare to lay a paw | vided. “Quarter me this Stag,” roared on it.” the German Lion; so the other animals “Humph,” grumbled the Austrian skinned it and cut it jnto four parts. Fox as he walked away with his tail Then the German Lion took his stand between his legs; but he spoke in a in front of the carcass and pronounced low growl— judgment: “The first quarter is for “You may share the labours of the me in my ity King of Beasts; great, but you will not share the spoil.” the second is mine as arbiter; another Kenneth L. Roberts. PETER J, CAREY, PRINTER comicbooks.com