Life, 1918-07-04 · page 14 of 36
Life — July 4, 1918 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on World War I-era British austerity measures, particularly regarding King George V's clothing restrictions. **"A Sartorial Crisis"** mocks the British king's decision to order inexpensive suits (under $15) to set an example during wartime. The text notes this creates a contrast with American prices and questions whether such modest clothing can adequately cover the king's physical frame—a subtle jab at his dignity. **The cartoon "Sentry"** depicts a starving soldier encountering a well-fed, mustached officer, likely a German, contrasting military hardship with command privilege. **"Deserted at the Altar"** shows a wedding interrupted, possibly satirizing wartime separations or broken promises. The "Suggestions for a Luxury List" section ironically catalogs items considered excessive during wartime rationing, including furs and flowers—highlighting civilian complaints about restrictions while soldiers suffered.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Sartorial Crisis HE news that King George has or- dered a suit of clothes costing somewhat less than fifteen dollars apparently did not disturb the mar- ket here to any appreciable extent, and was generally received with calm- ness by the American people. Sober second thought will also have its effect and undoubtedly do much to reassure the timid. For one thing, the price of cloth in Great Britain is much less than it is here, with the large duty, the same suit in New York costing from thirty-five to forty dollars. Then again, King George physically is not exten- sive. Covering him properly and de- cently with cloth is not like making a suit for a circus elephant or the Car- diff giant. Furthermore, he admitted that he had already made a resolve with himself to get along for the next sea- son with what clothes he had, and this suit was therefore just a little sartorial flyer. On the other hand, the gravity of the situation should not be minimized, for it is always best to face things as they are, and there can be no doubt that the Bolsheviki all over the world are secretly taking much comfort from this incident. When kings begin to “ZOU poor little boy! You are al- order fifteen-dollar suits it does look Ways starved; aren’e-you?” as if the brotherhood of man was ap- “Oh, no, ma'am! Just after my Retell et Sentry (to condemned spy): CHEER UP, FRITZ! I'VE JUST BEEN LOOKIN’ AT THY SUNKISE, AN’ YE COULUN’T WISIL FOR A FINER ONE TO BE SHOT AT Suggestions for a Luxury List The French “luxury list,” on every item of which a war tax is proaching. meals I'm only just hungry.” being levied, is constantly embracing new items. The latest are fur coats. pet cats, corsets, flowers and sheets. —News report, H VYWEIGHT prize fights. Folk who consider war-bread a hardship. Imitation beer. Woebegone faces. People who tremble at German blus- ter. Paper towels. Those who think the administration can do nothing right. Those who think the administration can do nothing wrong. Corrected 2 BOUT this food conservation, it certainly behooves us to get DESERTED AT THE ALTAR busy.” THERE'S A RUMOR THAT THIS 1S BOUND TO HAPPEN “You mean it behoovers us.” comicbooks.com