Life, 1918-03-28 · page 7 of 40
Life — March 28, 1918 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a satirical poem titled "Verboten Life in Germany: The Tale of an Erstwhile Pest," attributed to Kenneth L. Roberts. The poem describes a mischievous boy—a neighborhood nuisance who breaks windows, steals cherries, and causes trouble—who mysteriously reforms overnight after "war-smoke came," suggesting he was conscripted into military service and sent to France. The accompanying illustration shows three well-dressed adults in conversation, with the caption "WHAT DID SHE MEAN?" followed by "YOUR HUSBAND, MADAM, HAS JUST BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MERCIFUL HEAVENS!" The satire appears to mock German military discipline and suggests that war—or even divine intervention—could reform troublemakers. The poem's tone is darkly humorous about conscription's transformative effects on unruly youth.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Tale of an Exstwhile Pest I KNEW a boy, but yesterday, Then, overnight, the war-smoke came; And now we speak his name with pride- i Who lived three houses down the The boy shot up to man’s estate: We, who said jail would be his lot: street: Grim-faced he watched the nearing We tell his virtues far and wide: He smashed our windows in his play: flame— No day goes by that he's forgot. His talk was rude and indisereet. This youngster we were wont to hate. Of old we did not understand, He used to rob our cherry tree: With firm-set jaw and lifted eyes And in that thought we take no joy; At his approach our cat would quail And back as straight as any lance But now we wait with outstretched It always used to seem to me He left us in our first surprise hand— That he would end in jail. And went away to France. Good luck to you, my boy! Kenneth L. Roberts. , « WHAT DID SHE MEAN? “YOUR HUSBAND, MADAM, HAS JUST BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.” “ MERCIFUL HEAVENS!” . r xun | comicbooks.com