Life, 1918-08-08 · page 11 of 36
Life — August 8, 1918 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate humorous pieces typical of Life's satirical style: 1. **Top illustration**: A domestic complaint joke about a neighbor's noisy pig that wakes the household. The humor relies on the contrast between the neighbor's apology and the absurd claim that the pig helps "win the war"—likely referencing WWI-era patriotic rhetoric where citizens justified inconveniences as war contributions. 2. **"Mutual"**: A military anecdote about Alabama soldiers using town names as countersigns. The joke plays on miscommunication and regional dialect ("Birmingham" misheard as "Advance, hell!"), a common trope mocking rural soldiers. 3. **"Time Will Tell"**: A club banter joke about unpopularity, with a reassuring punchline about seniority. 4. **"More Camouflage"**: A cartoon about name-changing, apparently mocking German-sounding names during the wartime period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HbOR, 1 HATE TO COMPLAIN, BUT YOUR BABY KFEPS US AWAKE MOST OF THE NIGHT.” ) AND THAT PET PIG OF YOURS GETS US UP EARLY IN THE MORNI “BUT OUR PIG IS HELPING T0 WIN THE WAR.” Mutual THe Alabama contingent was using the names of Ala- a towns for countersigns, On this particular night a sentry challenged an officer. He replied, “A friend with the countersign.” Now the sentry should have said, “Advance and give the countersign,” but he did not. He cocked his gun. The officer, hearing it, nervously exclaimed, “Aren't you going to advance me?” “Advance, hell!” answered the sentry. “If you don't say ‘ Birmingham’ I'm going to shoot.” \ few nights later this same contingent of Alabamans was using the name of a French town, Armandvilliers, the countersign. .A soldier approaching was promptly chal- lenged, and answered, “A friend with the countersign.” This sentry knew his duty. He called, “ Advance and give the countersign.” The soldier approached and, sheepishly scratching his head, said, “Durned ef I ain't fergot it!” “So hey J,” said the sentry. "Pass, friend.” Time Will Tell “] THOUGHT I was the most unpopular man in this elub, but they say Pillson over there can beat me.” “But, my dear fellow, he has been a member longer than you have. Don’t be discouraged.” MORE CAMOUFLAGE “ PLEASE, YOUR HONOR, 1 WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE MY N. FROM TECKELMEIM VON LIMBURGER TO SILAS SALTONSTALL