Life, 1918-02-07 · page 7 of 40
Life — February 7, 1918 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top illustration:** A satirical scene labeled with letters L, I, F, E showing the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Soldiers stand guard at a gate marked "BERLIN" while civilians interact nearby. This appears to reference post-WWI Berlin during occupation or a period of military control. **"The Balm of the Makin's"** is a poem by Owen B. Winters mocking soldiers' experiences in trenches during WWI—describing mud, cold, artillery fire, and modest comforts like cigarettes and sweaters. It's darkly humorous verse about enduring wartime hardships. **"Ordinary"** presents a brief restaurant joke contrasting a guest's question about "ordinary" meals with the waiter's sardonic reply about profit margins—likely satirizing wartime or post-war economic adjustments and inflation. The page reflects American satirical commentary on WWI consequences and contemporary social conditions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Balm of the Makin’s H, it ain't all roses an’ romance, An’ it ain't all ladies an’ love When you're doin’ your bit you're apt to get hit By an aeroplane bomb from above. The trenches ain't divans of cider, An’ you wouldn't choose cooties for pals; The roar of the guns of the blitherin’ Huns Ain't much like the chatter 0° gals. But we don't mind the mud and the water, An’ we don’t mind the cold an’ the s 's more in the bag 1f we're suckin’ a fag an’ the We won't kick on chills an’ trench feet. Sweaters an’ trench caps an’ helmets, They all comes in handy, don't doubt But you'd mortgage your soul for a little white roll When you an’ your matey’s fresh out. Oiwen B, Winters, Ordinary ( ; IST (in NV York restaurant): What day is this— wheatless or a meatless ? Watter: No, sir; this is just an ordinary day. “Oh, I sce. This is the day when you just make a regu lar profit.” YOU NEVER CAN TELL ABOUT THESE RUSSIANS comicbooks.com