Life, 1918-03-28 · page 30 of 40
Life — March 28, 1918 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains WWI-era satire critiquing American attitudes about war and daily life. The top cartoon, "A Pessimist's Idea of How Our Boys Are Fighting in France," depicts chaotic combat while the accompanying poem argues that enlisted men (Privates, Corporals, Sergeants) will do the actual fighting, though officers will receive glory. It mocks the disconnect between military hierarchy and battlefield reality. "If They Told the Truth" satirizes social hypocrisy—people claiming wartime sacrifices (food rationing, conservation) while speaking falsehoods to maintain appearances. The dialogue exposes insincerity about austerity measures and relationships. "Blessings War Has Brought" uses bitter irony, listing supposed benefits: Bryan's political decline, exposing Hearst's influence, reducing women's hemlines, and curbing joyrides. The final jab attacks both prohibitionists and vivisectionists equally. Overall, the page mocks American pretense about sacrifice, women's fashion "reforms," and political self-righteousness during wartime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A PESSIMIST’S IDEA OF HOW OUR BOYS ARE FIGHTING IN FRANCE Heroes H, the Col. or the Maj. or the Lieut. Or the Gen. or the Adj. or the Cap. May be proud of the spur on his boot, Of his badge and his braid and his strap, Of his coat that is nes Of his look that is brisk and alive; and is right, But the men who will count in a fight Are the Serj. and the Corp. and the Priv. «I the Gen.! aud the Maj.! They will live through the might of the pen, They will shine in the lore of the age, In the tale’ of the war that is won, In the song of the trench and the charge; But the men who will do what is done Are the Priv, and the Corp, and the Serj. eIrthur Guiterman. If They Told the Truth “THAT hook you recommended? Oh, the Cap. and the Adj Oh, the Lieut, and the Positively the worst one IT ever read.” “What you tell me, madam, about your cutting your own bread for the family, having meat only once a week “using no sugar, is one of the most convincing conservation anil lies I have ever heard.” “No, thanks! ter sing before.” “Have I had enough to cat? Well, T believe sincerely in saving on food, but if I had to serve a dinner like this, You forget that I have heard your daugh- I'd wear a mask and go live in a sanitarium.” “Thad no ide: hut that your wife was as bad as you say, f course I agree with you.” here's one thing about your wedding present I like very much. I can readily exchange it.” “By Jove, Aunty! well.” “No, darling, not forever. But I think I can safely say that I shall continue to love you for one year and four months after we are marric¢ Iam sorry to see you looking so “Don't go away. If you weren't boring me you'd be bor- someone else.” Blessings War Has Brought [7 bas mate Bryan impossitte Shown up Hearst in his true light Pot Wall Street where it belongs. Lowered woman's skirts and shoe tops from one to two inches. Curtailed joy-riding F. believe in both viviseetion and prohihitionthe prohi- hition of vivisectionists and the vivisection of prohi- Litionist