Life, 1918-02-21 · page 30 of 40
Life — February 21, 1918 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This WWI-era satirical page contains several pieces mocking Germany and wartime topics: **"Why the Germans Want Indemnities from America"** sarcastically lists German war crimes and propaganda costs as justification for demanding American reparations—mocking German demands by cataloging atrocities: killing Red Cross personnel, gas attacks on doctors, the Lusitania sinking, spreading propaganda, and maintaining spies in U.S. government. **"Just Dogs"** is a sentimental poem praising war dogs' heroism, crediting them with saving lives and earning military honors (the Croix de Guerre). **"After the Breakdown"** cartoon depicts a woman encountering her ex-husband's cottage—likely satirizing domestic complications during wartime. **"Four Stages of the Farmer"** is a brief joke tracking the farmer's social elevation: from "Rube" (1915) to "Patriot" (1918) as agricultural production became militarily crucial. The page reflects American anti-German sentiment and emphasis on U.S. moral superiority during the First World War.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AFTER THE BREAKDOWN THE ONLY HABITATION WITHIN MILES IS THE COTTAGE ONE'S EX-HUSBAND HAS TAKEN Just Dogs “APHY'S all that fuss?" the sergeant said, “To ‘ear them scudding feet— Just dogs a-comin’ back again— Sancho an’ Pat an’ Pete.” Just dogs! Why, Sancho saved ten lives Half buried by a shell. He dug them out with bleeding paws Where blinding shrapnel fell. And little Pat bore under fire His Red Cross water can, Quenching the cruel, burning thirst Of many a wounded man. Pete tugged grenades at Loos, as brave As any soldier there; ¢ general knelt before them all To give his Croix de Guerre. TI Just dogs! Why, scarce a soldier gone Would find his heaven complete Unless he heard beside his own That sound of scudding feet! Charlotte Becker, Four Stages of the Farmer 1915—Rube. 1916—Farmer. 1917—Agriculturist. 1918—Patriot. Why the Germans Want Idemnities from America 'O defray the cost of shells used in killing American Red Cross ambu lance drivers. To pay for gas bombs dropped on American doctors. To reimburse the Imperial German Government for cost of torpedo that sank the Lusitania. To pa in Ameri German spi for the crushed glass placed n Red Cross bandages by To replace in the Imperial Treasury the five hundred million dollars ex- pended on German propaganda in America. To reimburse the Imperial Depart- ment of Forcign Affairs for sal: of spies maintained in the United States War, Navy and State Depart- ments, ies. Efficiency? * ‘OU say this car you sold me has gone only one thousand miles?” Deater: Just look at the speedome- ter. “Well, T wish you would take that Diplomat’s Sou: weir, NURSE, 1 JUST STARTED NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LORD TO BLESS PA AN’ MA AN’ MAKE ME A GOOD HOY. 1 EXPECT TO PUT IT THROUGH IN A COUPLE 0” YEARS.