Life, 1918-08-08 · page 22 of 36
Life — August 8, 1918 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains anti-Irish nationalist satire from around World War I. The "Ballade of Sinn Féiners" attacks the Irish independence movement's philosophy of "Sinn Féin" ("ourselves alone"), portraying Irish nationalists as selfish cowards indifferent to others' suffering—particularly Belgian and French victims of German aggression during the war. The accompanying cartoons satirize German-American relations and Irish neutrality during WWI. The top cartoon appears to show German influence on Irish children. The middle cartoon depicts an American woman welcoming a child and rejecting German culture ("Deutschland Über Alles"). The bottom cartoon mocks a Russian ambassador, likely referencing post-Bolshevik Revolution tensions. The brief dialogue section ridicules patriotism, martyrdom, and cowardice, contextualizing American attitudes toward non-interventionists and neutral parties during the war. The satire assumes readers share pro-Allied sympathies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
202 Ballade of Sinn Feiners (The words” Sian Fein” mean “ Our- selves Alone”) UR God is self: though nations die And countless thousands writhe in pain, We shut our ears to moan and cry And close our eyes to all the slain. ‘The weak call out to us in vain; We frown not on the foulest deed. The reason for our stand is plain: “Ourselves alone”; that is our creed. An outraged maiden’s dying sigh Fills us with naught but cold disdain ; And when the Prussians crucify Our friends we never wax insane And curse the beasts who so bestain This world of ours. Oh, no, indeed! By doing so what would we gain? that is our creed. “Ourselves alone”; Though all the world should go awry, We would not care, could we attain Our little ends. (The porker’s sty Provides our model, in the main.) “Self! Self!" ‘That's all that's in our brain: To aught but self we give no heed, We Brothers of the Coward Strain— “Ourselves alone”; that is our creed. Let brutes hold sway; let liars reign; Let Truth and Justice bow to Greed; Let Law be scorned; let Manhood wane: “Ourselves alone”; that is our creed. The Trio Completed 2 conversation during dinner he- me quite animated “A patriot,” remarked a witty young woman, “is a man who refuses to hook up his wife’s gown.” “And a martyr,” said a man, sitting opposite, “is one who attempts and fail while a hero tries and succeeds.” Then what is a coward?” asked one of the party. “Oh, a coward,” replied the witty young woman, “is a man who remains e, so he won't have to try OOK at this picture of the new Russian ambassador. Ah, yes, How nice! So this is Bol- sheviki himself, is it? AB Wrucernt WHEN HE 1S GLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT” comicbooks.com