Life, 1918-07-11 · page 30 of 34
Life — July 11, 1918 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* contains several brief satirical anecdotes and jokes: **"Military Indecision"** mocks military drilling incompetence. A sergeant drills recruits for hours, then immediately contradicts himself with conflicting orders ("Right turn!" then "Left turn!"), causing confusion. The joke satirizes military inefficiency and the absurdity of unthinking obedience. **"Mother Goose à la Crowder"** and **"Little Jack Horner"** are modernized nursery rhyme parodies. They reference a "Crowder mandate" (unclear reference) and mock Jack Horner for being forced into undesirable work at a TNT plant during wartime. These appear to comment on wartime labor conscription. **"Barber, barber, shave a pig"** similarly updates nursery rhymes with contemporary wartime employment concerns. The remaining anecdotes—about a dog-naming confusion, a minister's son misunderstanding "congregate" versus "collection"—are mild wordplay humor unrelated to topical satire. The page's dominant satirical theme targets military and wartime inefficiency rather than specific political figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| 66 | = R ue § Mother Goose & la Crowder Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater, AUT NULLus j F Had a wife and couldn't keep her. The Crowder mandate on him fell, And now he keeps her very well, BS: " ss ag Little Jack Horner Military Indecision P Sat ia a conier A sergeant was trying to drill a lot of Eating a Christman ples raw recruits, and after working hard for 4 x fiat how bé's a cleth-r three hours he thought they seemed to ae Theycput: hia to“worle be getting into some sort of shape, so a E i On the ground that he was engaged in a decided to test them 2 wemdelul o&copation: “Right turn!” he cried. Then, before ! they had cea » move, came another ne Barber, barber, shave a pig, order, “Left turn!” om : i y How many hairs will make a wig? One hoodlum left the ranks and SE { “T should worry and crease my brow! started off toward the barracks-room. eos v = } I work in a T N T plant now.” “Tere, you!” yelled the angry ser- q \ —Chicago Post. geant. “Where are you going?” “T've had enough,” replied the recruit faa disgusted tone. “You don't know Tue minister's little son was struggling with his home lessons, and happened to remark to his father that the teacher had ; = told him that “congregate” and “col- “Wirar is you name?" ee : : the same thing. “T don't know yet,” replied the patient " ce a ss ; said the father, man. “I am still experimenting. I have 3 | your teacher there the dog names I can think is all the difference in the world between of and he doesn’t answer to any of them.” aes adinaHiSTcoMReGW congregation’ and a ‘collection’!” —Washington Star. —London Answers. your own mind for two sminutes run- nin’! "—Harper’s Magazine. cously in the United States, G 7 Ls for sale by all newsdealers in Great Britain and may be obt: 1S. Patent Office. § . bal’ cities in. the worl trad n countries in the Postal Union. § 5 ls House, Breams Bui s, 10 cents. Rack numbers, after three months cents. Issues prior to 1910 out of print. ’ r ns in Livtare copyrighted. For Reprint Rights in Great Britain Notice of change of address should: each Ants. 6| rieriie Ihe die'x c, Breams Buildings, Fetter Lane, Lo EC. : issue Ge nits) f address should reach this ofice ten dass prior to the dete Summer Comfort What I Sub; HERE'S a delightful eit of European Plan Qi || at Investment Subject peony ‘|| Interests You? hominess and comfort that per- $2 0 85 Vor Two Persons, yvades The Hollenden. wit gone . . With their artistic summer dress to's Booklets on the following invest- of comfortable willow furniture, cool at yatious prices i ment su bj ects. includ ed in the looking grass rugs and pleasing cre- Four Restaurants, ij + : 3 tonne covers and drapes, the various Scribner Pocket Investment spacious and well-ventilated parlors ‘ei |; Series, will be sent free on request: and reception rooms invite to moments of luxurious ease Hi . f nd i ‘Trading on the Stock Exchange and relaxation. iC Investment Bonds Waly || Municipal Bonds Foreign Bonds Farm Mortgages Investor’s Service Bureau SCRIBNER’S MAGAZINE 594 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK