Life, 1918-07-18 · page 29 of 36
Life — July 18, 1918 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This sentimental piece uses a man-and-dog relationship as a metaphor for wartime sacrifice. The narrative traces childhood play between a boy and his dog—teaching tricks, playing dead—to adulthood, where both have "grown up." The final stanza reveals the deeper meaning: the boy, now a man in military uniform ("Khaks"), and his former companion are both enlisted for "our Big Stunt" at the front. They'll wear the Red Cross insignia together in combat. The piece appears to be WWI-era propaganda, romanticizing military service by framing it as a natural continuation of childhood bonding and loyalty. The dog serves as a symbol of faithful companionship and sacrifice, while the progression from innocent play to warfare suggests duty and patriotic obligation as inevitable life stages. The sentimental tone aims to inspire enlistment or acceptance of war participation among readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE > Stunts Twas « measly little pup, A hairy, Romeless runt, When he began to bring me up, An almost Kopeless stunt, But Ke was patient, kind and wise And long before Ld grown Too muck tn either sense or size, Lk chase a stick or stone. He taught me to sit up and growl, A stunt among the first I learned. But playing dead! I howl That was about the worst, Zor every time I tried hat stunt, ‘Twas sure fo make me blue To hear this-You're all right in Front, _# But get your tat dead too” ix/ RES YK I Those were days of purest joy, OM Then suddenly theyre hrougk- fo 4s _There 1s no pup, There ¢s no boy. it We Rave grown up-we two. il The man? He is in Khaks now, We're pals in‘our Big Stunt. Well wear the Red Cross througk thi row Together at (Ke front.