Life, 1918-06-27 · page 28 of 37
Life — June 27, 1918 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon**: "If the Anti-Loafing Law is Strictly Enforced" depicts Uncle Sam as a stern figure wielding a large sword over the Capitol Building, threatening to enforce laws against idleness. This satirizes wartime labor conscription and government enforcement of work obligations during World War I. **"Heroes"** (poem by Berton Braley): Celebrates soldiers aboard the *Tuscania* (a ship sunk in 1918) who faced death with humor and courage, singing "Where do we go from here?" The satire contrasts sentimental literary heroes with real soldiers' irreverent, "foolish" response to mortality—their gaiety in the face of death undercuts heroic pretense. **"The One Thing Needful"**: Argues America fights WWI not for material gain but idealistic "Vision"—Ultimate Democracy and planetary freedom. It invokes Washington, Lincoln, Joan of Arc as visionaries willing to die for ideals. **Bottom Cartoon**: A humorous domestic scene where a man discovers his barber is a woman he previously jilted, creating awkward irony. **"Wife's Standpoint"**: Satirizes a businessman claiming he deserves golf breaks like President Wilson, while his wife points out Wilson carries greater responsibilities—mocking men's excuses for leisure during wartime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
wE RRVE: SLINKSON DISCOVERS THAT THE BARBER WHO IS GOING TO SHAVE HIM IS THE GIRL HE JILTED LAST WANTER Heroes HE heroes of the story books are ever in a pose, They always die with words of high and lofty verse or prose; But when the old Tuscania went down with flying flag Our khaki gang of heroes sang a gay and foolish rag! “Where do we go from here, boys, where do we go from here?” Across the sea the melody came dancing free and clear. They faced their fate with souls elate and hearts that knew no fear, With “ Where do we go from here, boys, where do we go from here?” “Where do we go from here, boys, where do we go from here?” A song, in truth, of valiant youth, that never loses cheer. They felt the breath of clammy death, but with a lilt sin- cere, Their laughing shout rang blithely out. “ Where do we go from here?” It is a tale whose wondrous thrill we all of us can share, When brave men meet their destiny with spirit debonair. What foe can hope with boys to cope who sing, when death is near, “Where do we go from here. boys, where do we go from here?” Berton Braley. The One Thing Needful T is only by visions that we live. A nation, an individual, with a great mirage of a higher destiny, is still-born America cannot live by prosperity alone. It must believe in a supremely great future; and must be prepared to die, if need be, for that ideal. What does this war mean to America? Only dullards and Gradgrinds ask that question. The answer is not in our pockets nor in our lives—it lies in the future. It is a Vision. Conjure up the spirits of Washington, Lafayette, Tom Paine and Lincoln, and they will tell you why we are fight- ing. They fought for a Vision—something not seen with the eyes nor felt of the hand. Ask the spirits of Joan of Arc, Bruno and John Brown why they died in flames and on the gibbet. They will answer, “ Because we had a Vision!” America to-day fights for the Vision that is her soul— her birth-soul—Ultimate Democracy and the Freedom of a Planet. The Wife’s Standpoint IMPLETON: I simply have got to have some relief from business; and if President Wilson plays golf every day I don’t see why I can't, Mrs. Dimpteton: Ah, my dear, but you must remember that President Wilson hasn't the responsibilities that you have.