Life, 1918-03-21 · page 4 of 56
Life — March 21, 1918 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines hotel advertising with wartime satire and poetry. **Left side:** Advertisement for The Hollenden Hotel in Cleveland, emphasizing its "modern, first-class" status and rising popularity. The top illustration depicts elegant diners. **Right side:** A poem titled "Abou Ben 'Wilhelm'" parodies famous poetry (likely Leigh Hunt's "Abou Ben Adhem"), mocking a German military figure. The satire suggests Wilhelm (likely Kaiser Wilhelm II) made a Faustian bargain, offering names of Belgium's dead to Satan in exchange for military success, only to have his own name erased from Hell's roster—suggesting his ignominy surpasses even damnation. Below, an article titled "Kindly and Considerately" critiques German claims about treating prisoners humanely, contrasting propaganda with documented reports of Allied prisoners' mistreatment in German camps. The page reflects WWI-era American anti-German sentiment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
European Plan with Bath: One Person, 0 $5. Increasingly Popular Hrellencer patronage is on a steadily rising curve. In its appointments, its facilities, and its ability to meet every requirement of changing ideas, ‘he Hollenden constant- ly maintains its position as a thoroughly modern, first-class hotel. THINGS WORTH WHILE GCOD RESTAURANTS G@D SERVICE GMD MUSIC AN CUswil OF COURSE KING OF TABLE WATERS Abou Ben “Wilhelm” (With appropriate apologies) BOU BEN “WILHELM” (may his tribe decrease!) Awoke one night from a horror of peace, And saw by aid of moonlight through the pane Dripping with blood of women slain in shame Satan himself, writing in a Book of Flame Exceeding war had made Ben Wilhelm bold, And to the Devil in the room he said: “What writest thou?” Then Satan raised his head And, witl tat thought of Belgium's dead, Answered: “The names of those to whom 1 turn For guidance in my realm below.” “And is mine one?” said Wilhelm. “Nay, not so.” Replied the Devil. Wilhelm spoke more low, But wearily still, and said as one forlorn “Write me as one the War Was Forced Upon!” The Devil wrote and vanished. The next day He came again, with manner cheered and gay, And showed the names of those who'd grace Hell's throne And lo! Ben Wilhelm’s name was all alone! A.B, Warren, “Kindly and Considerately” EMI-OFFICIAL agencies in Berlin have denied indig- nantly that Germans intend to treat American pris- oners systematically worse than British, French and Italian prisoners. “American prisoners,” says the denial, “ will be treated just as kindly and considerately as all other pris- oners.”” Ambassador Gerard and other reputable observers have told us how British and French prisoners in Germany were starved, shot, exposed to disease, herded in filthy quarters and. sct upon by fierce dogs. In spite of the German tatk of kindliness and consideration, it will proba- bly be some time before American soldiers seck German prison camps for rest, recreation or relaxation, KL. R.