Life, 1918-07-25 · page 23 of 36
Life — July 25, 1918 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces from WWI-era Life magazine: **Top cartoon & poem**: Depicts a decorated soldier with two young girls. The poem mocks a soldier who exploited others during wartime—sponging off officers' money, flirting with nurses—yet received military honors (crosses, Croix de Guerre) anyway. The satire targets undeserving soldiers rewarded despite moral failings, while paradoxically asking readers to honor all war dogs (soldiers) in peace and war. **"A Reasonable Inquiry"**: A biting attack on Postmaster General Albert S. Burleson under President Wilson. The caption sarcastically suggests Burleson is so incompetent or corrupt that almost nothing would prompt Wilson to demand his resignation—implying the President tolerates egregious misconduct. **Bottom anecdote**: A joke about a chauffeur-turned-soldier injured when a mule stopped; he crawled under it to check the problem, clearly commentary on stupidity or poor military judgment. All three pieces reflect wartime frustration with military incompetence, corruption, and misplaced honors.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ MAYBE HE'S BEEN PLAYING RING-A-ROSY, IT ALWAYS MAKES ME DIZZY" At the hospital base his cheating was worse, If the theft of our hearts be sin, For he sponged on a major-general’s purse, And licked the tears from the check of his nurse, As she tenderly tucked him in. So they gave him another cross to wear, Though they wanted to give him ten; But he kept just two—which was just and The cross on his flank and a Croix de Guerre, For the envy of lesser men. Yet, he only asks, with a pleading paw, When this madness of Might shall cease, To hold in your bosoms one human law: Remember our dogs in the days of war And our dogs in the days of peace. ard Peple. URGEON: This man’s injuries are very peculiar, How did he get hurt? Attenpant: He was a chauffeur before he enlisted, and when the mule stopped he crawled under it to see what was the matter. A Reasonable Inquiry S there any crime or stupidity of which Postmaster Burleson could he guilty that would induce President Wilson to ask for. his resignation? He laeer ARABIAN NIGHTIES