Life, 1918-07-04 · page 26 of 36
Life — July 4, 1918 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine combines serious wartime reflection with satirical humor. **"Those Who Return"** is a poignant poem by Clinton Scollard addressing World War I soldiers. It questions whether returning veterans will psychologically reintegrate—will they seem changed, haunted by experiences civilians cannot fathom? The poem contemplates the alienation trauma creates. **"Life's Horoscopes"** by Booth Tarkington satirizes two contemporary figures through mock-astrological predictions: 1. **Booth Tarkington** (the author himself)—a celebrated Indianapolis-born novelist. The satire mocks literary pretension and publishing trends. 2. **Lloyd George**—the Welsh Prime Minister, referenced through absurdist Welsh place-names and wartime politics. The horoscope jokes that he'll "succeed best in 1919" with "Pershings ascendant" (American General Pershing) and "periscopes submergent" (submarines)—topical WWI references suggesting Allied military dominance. The right-side illustrations depict trench warfare brutality, captioned "so this is what they call 'Hell'"—darkly contrasting the satirical horoscopes with actual soldier suffering. The juxtaposition highlights *Life*'s dual role: serious social commentary wrapped in humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Those Who Return HOSE who return from scarred and stricken places, Our imen of valor, will they seem the same, ° Or will they wear on their beloved faces Something inscrutable we may not name? Will they take up their duties and their pleasures With aims and ardors that they knew of old, Or will they weigh all life with newer measures, And view the past as one a tale long told? They who have looked into the eyes of dangers Unsensed by us, and which we may not feel, Will they not sometimes be to us as strangers, Holding at heart what they may not reveal? Unchanged, yet changed in this—that they have been So near the veil that hides the Great Unseen! Clinton Scollard. Life’s Horoscopes BOOTH TARKINGTON HERE being a lull in the literary market, with Hoosiers, preferred, selling short, Pegasus rampant and bobbsinerrills on the face of the Moon, this young man was born in Indianapolis in 1869, the only passion star visible in the Milky Way being Ella Wheeler Wilcox. He should avoid Hearsts and Colliers when the Moon is in the third cusp of the house of Venus and also at other times. Will do his best work in and on his native state. Critical years are seventeen, thirty- four and fifty-one, when he will reach the height of his fame. After that he can live on his reputation without being praised in print by editors. LLOYD GEORGE The Ram, the Bull, the Heavenly Twins And next the Crab the Lion shines The Virgin and the Scales. The Scorpion, Archer and the Goat, The Man that pours the waters out, And Fish with glittering tales. NDER all these doggerel signs, not to mention St. George the Dragon, the subject of this horoscope was born somewhere in Wales (probably in Llwwggbrrweswishkilt- kyllgwan), and, having received an uncommon education by the total eclipse of his uncle's finances, resolved to prevent the world from being conquered by the powers of darkness. Looks well in a conscripted suit of Home Rule Kilties trimmed with Northcliffe persiflage, but should avoid Ulsters. Will succeed best in the year 1919, with Pershings ascendant and periscopes submergent. Soldier from Western Front: so TH1s 1s WHAT THEY CALL “HELL” “Accidents will happen”