Life, 1918-05-30 · page 27 of 36
Life — May 30, 1918 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** A wartime fundraising gimmick satirizes how charities exploit public sentiment. Captain Guy Smyth promises to kiss any woman donating a dollar to the Red Cross—a thinly veiled commentary on using celebrity appeal and romance as marketing tactics. The caption's dry humor ("Money can be raised by this method") mocks the absurdity of such incentives. **"The Realm of Fanfarona":** A verse satire by Arthur Guiterman mocks America's diplomatic hesitation before entering World War I. Fanfarona represents the U.S., confidently issuing diplomatic protests while the aggressor ("Wicked Hoola-Boola," likely Germany) ignores them and seizes territory unchecked. The poem ridicules empty threats and grandiose promises ("Hundred Million Men! A Navy...") without action—eventually forcing reluctant military engagement. **"Flushed with Victory":** A brief joke about wartime Prohibition. Despite winning "at the polls" (likely a referendum), the humorous contradiction emerges: all saloons closed anyway, making wartime sacrifice ironic for drinkers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: — Cart Guy Smytu will positively KI SS every woman who gives ONE DOLLAR to the i i HX i i iH mi Hinclalll Hit il MA sai PIG HT HAHA UAW A Ani I | Ui WE i] Hilt i I Hi i } Hil UHH) Ui MONEY CAN BE RAISED BY THIS METHOD The Realm of Fanfarona 'HE Realm of Fanfarona was a Most Progressive State, And it blushfully admitted it was Valorous and Great; And it modestly acknowledged its Pre-eminence in Worth As the Noblest and the Grandest and the Freest Land on Earth. The Wicked Hoola-Boola was the King of Mallecamp— A Highly Able Tyrant, though a Robber and a Scamp, For he never Blew the Trumpet till he’d Drawn the Shining Sword— And he marched on Fanfarona and he took the Town of Ord. The Realm of Fanfarona was astounded at the Wrong, But it never lost its Temper, for it knew that it was Strong; So it sent an Ultimatum, a Remonstrance and a Note, And the Wicked Hoola-Boola took the Town of Pillicote. The Realm of Fanfarona felt Exceedingly Aggrieved, And its Statesmen clearly Stated that they verily believed That the Wicked Hoola-Boola was an Ogre and a Ghoul! And the Wicked Hoola-Boola took the Town of Molecule. The Realm of Fanfarona, after Long and High Debate, Announced with Deep Regret, that it was forced to Intimate The So-to-speak Existence of a Quasi State of War. And the Wicked Hoola-Boola took the Town of Metaphor. The Realm of Fanfarona made a Promise, there and then: “We Are Going to Have an Army of a Hundred Million Men! We Are Going to Have a Navy that will bridge the Seven Seas!” And the Wicked Hoola-Boola took the Town of Litotese. The Realm of Fanfarona scratched its Figurative Head; “ We'll have to change our Plan,” that Realm of Fanfarona said; “When the Wicked Hoola-Boola shows his Predatory Might, It is Time to quit our Talking and just buckle down to Fight!” Arthur Guiterman. Flushed with Victory NT CITIZEN: Yes, sir, we won a great No more liquor? not for the duration of the war. Every saloon in town closed up tight. What’ll you have—Manhattan or Martini?” comicbooks.com