Life, 1918-05-23 · page 11 of 40
Life — May 23, 1918 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon depicts a man sowing seeds labeled with various concepts (appearing to include "Hardy Airplane," "Early Ships," and "Pacifist" among others) while fantastical figures above harvest money and goods. The title "The Sower" suggests ironic commentary on American spending priorities. The accompanying text discusses pensions for war heroes and asks what the chief object of American taxation should be. One response advocates for pensions for "national idols" and references England's practice. Another, attributed to "French and British soldiers who have been killed on the field of battle," sarcastically suggests they should decide when peace comes. The cartoon appears to satirize how American tax money is distributed—between military/industrial projects and social obligations to veterans—during or after World War I.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SOWFR What Would You Take> HAT would you take a year to be the chief object of adulation of the American people? Everyone to whom that has happened, or who has sur- vived it, ought to have a generous life pension and some- thing substantial for his heirs. In England it is understood that national idols are en- titled to have it made up to them in good money. Here we have, as yet, no like appreciation of our duty. Dewey's pension has lapsed, and T. R. draws nothing from the government, “yuo do you think onght to decide when we shall have peace?” t the French and British soldiers who have been killed on the field of battle.’ comicbooks.com