Life, 1918-06-06 · page 24 of 40
Life — June 6, 1918 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of satirical content from wartime America (likely WWI era): **"Historic Boys"** features caricatures of Rex Beach and Charlie Schwab—prominent public figures whose exaggerated likenesses served as humorous commentary on notable men of the day. **"The Song Valiant"** is a patriotic poem by Clinton Scollard, striking a stirring, earnest tone about martial courage—likely included as sincere wartime inspiration rather than satire. **"A Lady Objects to Knitting"** mocks Dr. Eliza T. Ransom's criticism of women's volunteer knitting efforts for soldiers. The satire is brutal: Life sarcastically suggests absurd alternatives (generating electricity by scuffing carpets, talking the Kaiser to death) to ridicule her argument that hand-knitting wastes women's potential. The piece defends traditional women's war work against elite criticism. **"Advice to One Asking Advice"** offers cynical wisdom about whom to trust, concluding that even wise men become biased when their own finances are at stake.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HISTORIC BOYS HUSKY REX BEACH The Song Valiant IVE me to sing a valiant song, I pray, Without a note that shall its cadence mar; One that shall mount to greet the sun by day, By night the listening star! A song with courage keyed in every chord, A flaming song to kindle and inspire; One that shall stir the hearts of men, O Lord, With patriotic fire! One to be like a trumpet in the dawn, Or one of sacrifice, should that needs be, If so it lift the soul, and bear it on To heights of victory! Clinton Scollard. Advice to One Asking Advice O to a banker for advice on anything except finances. Talk over with a lawyer anything except legal aspects. Advise with a doctor on any subject but illness, Ask the advice of any man in affairs that do not pertain to his own business. But beware the counsel of the wisest man on earth in matters that may affect his own pocket. CHARLIE SCHWAB A Lady Objects to Knitting R. ELIZA T, RANSOM, of Boston, wants women to stop knitting socks for the soldiers, “There is too much work to be done,” says Dr, Ransom, “to spend our energies knitting or winding bandages or doing by hand any of the things that can be done by machines. The potential energy of the won-en of New York is like the force of Niagara. There is nothing they could not accom- plish if they wanted to strongly enough.” Dr, Ransom is doubtless correct ; but she neglects to state what branch of war-work she wishes women to take up in place of knitting. Does she wish them to devote themselves to generate so much electricity by scuffing on carpets that we won't need to burn coal, or does she desire them to attempt to talk the Kaiser to death by repeating certain words in unison? Until Dr. Ransom tells women how to be properly useful, they might as well keep on wasting their energy in knitting or rolling bandages while the doctor does the heavy think- ing. “YVOU may be a good man, but we can't use you; you are too gloomy looking.” “T can't help that, sir; I've been living in Maine.” “What's that got to do with it?” “Why, there’s where they conceal good spirits.” comicbook Poe