Life, 1918-07-04 · page 33 of 36
Life — July 4, 1918 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Content:** This page features a continuation of "Letters from the Front," a first-person account from a WWI soldier describing a hazing prank pulled on new recruits. Older soldiers trick newcomers into believing a German gas attack is occurring by creating carbide fumes and firing a gun, then distributing gas masks. The soldiers are instructed not to remove masks until hearing the "Klaxon" (air raid siren). **The Cartoon:** The bottom illustration shows a man and dog running together, captioned "THIS MAN USED TO THINK ALL DOGS WERE A MENACE." The context suggests this reflects changed perspectives post-WWI—soldiers experiencing actual combat horrors (gas attacks, bombs) likely gained new appreciation for ordinary peacetime concerns. **Advertisements:** The page includes ads for Tiffany & Co. and the Highlands of Ontario resort. **Historical Context:** The letter reflects the dark humor soldiers used to cope with genuine wartime dangers, while the cartoon's caption suggests how combat fundamentally altered servicemen's civilian perspectives.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Letters from the Front (Continued from page 20) always been a standing joke in this sec- tion to pull a gas attack on all new men when they join the section, There were nine other fellows that joined the section the same time I did, so the older men of the section had the attack all arranged to pull when we got in bed. We went to bed about ten o'clock, and the older men of the section told us that they had heard acroplanes flying over the town earlier in the evening, and if they should drop gas bombs to pull our blankets up over our heads until they could get gas masks, which we did not have, for us. The result was they got us all worked up, and thinking there would be a gas at- tack. About eleven o'clock two fellows got out of the sleeping quarters without our knowing it. Our sleeping quarters were in the hay-loft of a barn, so they went in on the ground floor of the barn and filled a can with carbide and water and placed it so the fumes would go up through the floor to where we were sleep- ing. Immediately after doing that, they went outside of the barn, under a big door to the loft, and fired one shot from the gun, and at the same time broke a wine bottle, and as we had never heard the bursting of a gas bomb, we thought sure we were gassed. The first thing I did was pull the blankets up over my head and hold them there as tight as I possibly could. I did not only do that, but I called and called for a gas mask, which I finally got through the kindness of one of the older men, who took it off and gave it to one of the fellows to give me, After we got the masks and put them on, they told us not to take them off until we heard the Klaxon, They in tent, log cabin or modern hotel ina country of scenic beauty where fishing, hunting, kodaking, canoe- ing are at their best. Highlands of Ontario offers you and all the family the outing of your lite. The Grand Trunk Railway will help you plan your stay at Algonquin Park, Muskoka Lakes, Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays or Timagami,. Write or call for literature. J.D, McDonald, 917 Merchacts Leas ‘& Trust Bide, Chicago F.P, Dwyer, 1270 Brosdway. New York W. R Eastman, 294 Washingtoo St, Boston A.B. Ghown, S06 Park Bile, Pittsbargh TIFFANY & CO, JEWELERS SILVERSMITHS STATIONERS THE MAIL SERVICE GIVES PROMPT ATTENTION To ALL INQUIRIES FIFTH AVENUE & 37@ STREET NEw YORK THIS MAN USED TO THINK ALL DOGS WERE A MENACE