Life, 1918-03-14 · page 8 of 40
Life — March 14, 1918 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon satirizes military innovation during what appears to be World War I. It depicts an enormous armored vehicle with a cannon, accompanied by marching soldiers. The caption asks: "WHY NOT USE AN ARMORED HARVESTER AND BINDER ON THE BATTLEFIELD?"—mocking the absurdity of applying agricultural machinery to warfare. This is satirical commentary on either overconfidence in new war technology or the disconnect between industrial progress and practical military solutions. Below are inspirational pieces: a patriotic poem "Dear Little Hands" by Margaret C. Gwathmey encouraging women's participation in the war effort (farming, factory work), and an anecdote titled "An Able Man" about competence in leadership. The satirical thrust critiques technological optimism while simultaneously promoting civilian mobilization for the war.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHY NOT Udi. AN ARMORED HARVESTER AND BINDER ON THE BATTLEFIELD? Dear Little Hands LITTLE hands, that lead us where ye will, I close my eyes and blindly follow thee. ently, I know, along the path to God Thou leadest me. O little hands, so fragile yet so strong, Thankful, I clasp thee close within mire own, Glad, while ye lead, my strength is still thy need To lean upon, The world goes by unseen—I heed it not. Protectingly I press the fingers frail. Surely, ah, surely, they are helpless still, Aught to avail! The nations grapple in a last death throe; My eyes flash wide—behold! a man is here! I knew not that the little hands had grown— They were so dear! Yet, firmly now, they are withdrawn from mine— Let me not hinder, Lord, their destined part— is dark—groping, I go alone— Courage, O heart! Margaret C. Gwathiney. Come, Girls! Learn how to farm. Dig IRLS! Farming is an occupation which every woman in America ought to take up at once. There is actually an ice famine, in the severest winter we have had. Why? Because of shortage of labor. Girls, think of that! The next crop of wheat is in peril because there are so few le’ to dig. The women must help. Girls! Have you ever seen the sun rise? It has the great white way crowded off the map. You don't mind getting up to sec it, because you've gone to bed the night before with the chickens who don’t live on Broadway. Girls! Have you ever made butter, put a hen on, milked a cow, set a scarecrow or killed a pig? If you haven't, you don’t know what life is. Life isn’t sitting in a sub-cellar at four A. M. drinking red ink and talking vers libre. Life isn't spending your time in palm rooms or joy-riding with the husband of someone you have never met. Life isn’t lolling. Life isn’t what’s on you, but in you. It isn’t Broad- way and Forty-second Street, but at Smith's Corners, where the scent of the new mown hay is borne on the balmy breeze. Is! Your coyntry waits you! HIS NEW STEEL HELMET Jones: NOW 1 WONDER WHERE THERE'S A BLACKSMITH MANDY! MY HAT NEEDS REBLOCKING An Able Man “T HEAR Banger’s son has been made president of his company. “On the contrary. of the union that controls the company,” Didn't know he had any particular ability.” He married the daughter of the head