Life, 1918-04-04 · page 28 of 40
Life — April 4, 1918 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical pieces targeting American social hypocrisy during World War I: **Top cartoons:** Contrast Liberty (left, holding "Liberty and Gratitude" flag) with a bloated, carousing figure (right) holding a "Profiteering and Graft" flag. The caption attributes this to a "German Professor," suggesting Americans are imitating French culture while actually embodying greed and corruption. **Main narrative:** Criticizes wealthy bankers who gain patriotic reputations as "dollar-a-year men"—corporate executives serving government at nominal salary for propaganda value—while making real sacrifices. The speaker confronts "Bunderbay" (likely fictional), arguing such men haven't genuinely sacrificed despite public acclaim. **Bottom cartoon ("The Christian Scientist's Debauch"):** Depicts apparent hypocrisy—likely mocking Christian Scientists or prohibitionists enjoying alcohol/excess while preaching restraint. **Poem "Bits":** Acknowledges different wartime contributions (shells, artillery, information), suggesting various sacrifice types are legitimate. The overall theme: American patriotism is performative when wealthy elites profit while claiming sacrifice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
I’m not blaming you,” I added, “but the conditions. When a wealthy bank- er, who has made a lot of money in the past because he happened to be in the financial swim, can acquire a repu- tation for superfine patriotism just by getting himself advertised all over the country as a dollar-a-year man—why, something’s wrong. Mr. Bunderbay, your luncheon is getting cold.” Kableton almost fainted on my shoul- der. He'll never forgive you,” he mut- tered. “Nonsense!” I replied soothingly. “It will do him good. In these days, I added pleasantly, as I helped myself to another half slice of corn bread, “the truth hurts no man.” Bits you kept from fighting By some circumstance? Are you discontented, Yearning still for France? Some can be the bombshell f Bursting on the foe, Raining iron destruction On his ranks below. Some must be the star shell In the darkened sky, Showing to the others Where his forces lie. McLandburgh Wilson. OUR CULTURE IS LARGELY AN IMITATION OF THE FRENCH —A German Professor. I can, giving up my time and brains— such as they are,” he added modestly, “to my country. Kableton looked at me, shocked. The idea that 1 should have dared to say what I did of such a great man, and that this great man should be so ex- tremely magnanimous as to stoop to explain—this was too much. There was evidently nothing to do but for me to crawl. But I made up my mind, then and there, that I would speak out just what I thought. “In proportion to what you might do,” I replied, “you are doing little enough. You haven't made one real sacrifice. The few thousand dollars in your time that you are giving up is well worth your while; and certainly you are losing nothing in being advertised. THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST’S DEBAUCH \\ \\ SN WS NN A SS yr \ comicbooks.