Life, 1918-03-28 · page 24 of 40
Life — March 28, 1918 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct satirical pieces from the World War I period: **"Good Lies and Bad"**: An essay arguing that "good lies" (diplomatic falsehoods) serve society better than "bad lies" (practical deceptions that don't pay bills). The accompanying cartoons illustrate domestic absurdities—a husband reacting badly to his wife's "domestic science" cooking, and a man being launched by a spring-loaded contraption. **"Liberty Bond Lore"**: Patriotic propaganda written as mock-sacred text, urging Americans to purchase Liberty Bonds (government war bonds) using quasi-religious language ("Liberty will take care of herself"). This reflects WWI fundraising efforts. **"Easter Eggs on Margin"**: A political cartoon showing children asking a merchant to buy luxury Easter eggs on credit ("margin"). This satirizes postwar inflation and consumer excess despite economic constraints—the absurdity of buying luxury goods on borrowed money during uncertain times. The page blends humor with wartime messaging, using satire to comment on American society's contradictions during and after WWI.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HOW THE YOUNG HUSRANG FELT WHEN Hf ATE THOSE DOMESTIC-SCIENCF DUMPLINGS. Good Lies and Bad HY not have an anthology of Good Lies? We have anthologies of almost everything else under the sun, and all diplomats agree that there is nothing so important to the world's health as a Good Lie, Bad Lies are an abomination, They do not get one into the best society. They are not practical. They neither pay the rent nor in- SPRING KHLAPSODY crease the salary check. But a Good Li things, and more. Liberty Bond Lore E among the first by whom the new Liberty Bonds are bought. Take care of the Liberty Bonds, and Liberty will take care of herself Buy Liberty Bonds, and the world buys with you; hold bac you hold back alone The Liberty Bond is as mighty as the sword \ Liberty Bond and its value are never parted, Buy Liberty Bonds in haste. and re- joice at leisure. Never flaunt your American flag be- fore you have bought your Liberty Bonds. All the world loves a Liberty Bond- holder. Never put off till to-morrow the Lib- erty Bonds you should be buying to- day. Be it ever so gilt-edged, there’s no investment like the Liberty Bond. ’Tis better to have bought the small- est Liberty Bond than never to have bought at all. “PLEASE, SIR, WE WISH TO BUY ONE OF YOUR BEST EASTER EGGS ON MARGIN, does all these Occasionally it has got mediocre men comicbooks.