Life, 1918-04-11 · page 33 of 44
Life — April 11, 1918 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines patriotic war poetry with automobile advertising—typical of WWI-era Life magazine. **Left side:** A poem titled "The Unstained Shield" responds to Crown Prince Frederick William's claim about Germany's moral military conduct. The poem sarcastically describes the German "shield" as corrupt, forged in hell, made of lies and cruelty. It's anti-German propaganda framed as serious verse, invoking God's protection for innocents facing "the stainless German shield"—the irony being Germany's actual conduct. **Right side:** A Thermoid Rubber Company advertisement for brake linings, endorsed by automobile manufacturers. It emphasizes safety and reliability—practical, domestic consumption messaging alongside the war rhetoric. The juxtaposition is striking: patriotic denunciation of German militarism paired with reassuring American consumer products. This reflects how WWI permeated American civilian life, blending moral crusade messaging with ordinary commerce. The page exemplifies Life's role as both satirical commentator and commercial publication.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
\ enue The Unstained Shield With unstained shield and sharp sword we stand . . . ready to strike and win, God with us. —Crown Prince Frederick William, A SHIELD of dark corruption The German war-lords wrought: A shield of lies and foulness, Of lust and sinful thought, Of cruelty and hatred, Of death and blood and tears, Of broken faith and ruthlessness, Of treachery and fears. Upon its dreadful surface he ghastly colors lay, Unbrightened and unbroken By one redeeming ray Of chivalry or justice Or truth’s revealing light Or reverence or moral code Or equity or right. Across its grisly shadows No stain of fairness fell To mar its utter evil, Conceived and forged in hell. Barbarity and baseness Its frowning face revealed God help the innccents who face The stainless German shield! Kenneth L. Roberts. “DILIGENCE is the mother of good Inck.” wrote Poor Richard in his almanac for 1738 This year he In annual sub- scription to Live: is the father of week ly happiness.” IMPRESSIONS OF CONGRESS INSPECTED HY = / Brakes \\ \ 1 | | | How HEN the unexpected happens can you count absolutely on your brakes? At the moment they are most needed will they act quickly, surely and safely ? With so much depending on good brakes is it wise for you to neglect them ? Perhaps only a slight adjustment is necessary to make them dependable instead of doubtful. If they do need relining you most certainly want to know it. Endorsed by automobile manufacturers The engineers of fifty-one leading manufacturers, ten axle makers, and countless jobbers and dealers have selected Ther- moid Brake Lining because they know its dependability. 1. More material, greater service. There is over 40% more material and 60% more labor used in the manufacture of Ther- moid Brake Lining than in any woven brake lining. 2. Grapnalized—an exclusive process which creates resistance to moisture, oil and gasoline. 3. Hydraulic compressed, uniform throughout. Every square inch of Thermoid is hydraulic compressed at a pressure of 2000 pounds. Have your dealer inspect your brakes today. He will show you Thermoid Brake Lining that you may see why it is so different, so efficient and long wearing. If he hasn't Thermoid we will gladly send a sample. Be sure to accept no substitute, our guarantee protects you. Thermoid will make good—or WE WILL. ermoid Rubber Compan Factory and Main Offices: Trenton, N. J. | Branches: New York Chicago. San Francisco Indianapolis | Detroit Los Angeles Philadelphia Pittsburgh Boston ‘London Turin Canadian Distributors: The Canodian Fairbanks-Morse Company, Limited, Montreal 8 in all principal Canadian cities Makers of ‘‘Thermoid Crolide Compound Casings’’ (©) Thermoid Rubber Co., 113 quickly could you stop? Don’t wait for an emergency to test your brakes 5 Brake Inspection Movement Prominent officials, leading clubs and organizations and motorists everywhere have endorsed this big national movement to reduce auto- mobile accidents, by having all brakes inspected before the touring season begins, and regularly thereafter. Give it your support. Will your car do this ? Automobile engineers have Proved that when brake mech- is right and road conditions aver- ag ar should stop at distances and speeds given by the chart. V2 means the square of the velocity or speed of your car;10.8is the proved factor of retardation under average road con- ditions. This factor decreases on smooth, slippery roads 10 6.7 and increases as high a317.4 on rough, worn roads. The chart represents the average condition and other conditions can readily be figured by changing the factor within the given limits, Remember that your brake mechanism is not “right” unless its brake lining has the ideal co-efficient of friction, The better the brake lining the quicker your stop. Thermoid Brake Inspection Chart and ‘‘Thermoid Garden Hose’’ comicbooks.com