Life, 1918-05-23 · page 8 of 40
Life — May 23, 1918 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces: **"Her War Garden"** (left): A poem by Charlotte Becker celebrating women's home gardening efforts during wartime, presented as patriotic contribution to the war effort. **"Henry Ford a Senator? Oh, No!"** (center-right): A satirical piece questioning whether Henry Ford should become a U.S. Senator. The text acknowledges Ford's genius for manufacturing and democratic ideals, but argues he lacks the qualifications and temperament needed for political office. The cartoon depicts a caricatured figure lounging in bed with an "Optimism" bottle, suggesting overconfidence or naïveté about politics. **"Umbrella Manufacturer"** (bottom left): A brief joke about weather and umbrella sales. **"Grabby's daughter"** (bottom right): A separate joke about piano practice. The page appears from World War I era, given the war garden reference and Ford's prominence in that period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
828 Her War Garden ITHIN her fragrant garden ways, Amid the tidy rows That ripen through the summer days, She weeds and digs and hoes She has no time for worrying Or nursing fear or grief. When every cager growing Needs care for bud and leaf. Each Long files of curly gr s new joys her labors bless— ens, And luscious lines of cooling cress. And peas and corn and beans, And, as she coaxes root and stem Their She garners grateful stores from them, That pe utmost use to bear, rer neighbors share, soldiers’ folk for miles around nd help and cheer, that she Sends from her garden's love-tilled ground To those across the Charlotte. Becker. Henry Ford a Senator? Oh, No! ENRY FORD is a genius. If his gift for mechanics, though remarkable, does not amount to geni- us, consider his talent for economical mass production! But the greatest thing about is his consecration to democracy. He has Umbrella Manufacturer: sy! WHAT BEAUTIFUL WEATHER! 1 BE LIEVE 1 COULD ALMOST WRITE A SPRING POEM MYSELF. “at's WONDEKFUL WHAT THAT STUFF CAN MAKE YOU SEE” insisted upon being useful to the great hody of the people. To that end he labored long, and put aside easy money, and plu; 1 along doggedly until he had realized his wish. He is, or used to he, a Republican in politics, but, in- side, he is a great democrat, But would Hen senator from Michigan? he any good as Ty not any Comb out Michigan and find a man for senator who is not Henry Ford. Leave Henry to his job. It needs him, and the country needs to have him on it. He has never studied or practiced He would he wasted, and perhaps worse, in the Senate. to he a senator. “ HAT is Grubb’s daughter tractic- ig on the piano?” Frightfulness.” comicbooks (tml