Life, 1918-08-22 · page 5 of 34
Life — August 22, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **Top illustration**: A line drawing depicting children playing jump rope on what appears to be a summer porch or veranda, labeled "SUMMER BOARD." This is a lighthearted domestic scene with no obvious satirical intent. **Main content**: A poem titled "A Soldier I Could Name" by L'Envoi and attributed to Mary Goss Walsworth. The poem praises an unnamed soldier's virtues—his courage, humility, and moral character—contrasting his simple khaki uniform favorably against ornamental dress and aristocratic pretense. **Accompanying illustration**: "THE THUNDERSTORM," a dramatic dark image showing a wounded or dying soldier in a room during a storm, viewed through a window. Together, these elements appear to be a sentimental, patriotic piece honoring soldiers' sacrifice and virtue during wartime (likely WWI given the context). The satire, if present, is gentle—mocking excessive ornamentation rather than attacking specific figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Soldier I Could Name [8 dss of song and od romance," ly quest and glorious meed, Of ladies fair, and ¢ tance ered love and val Great soldiers bravely fought and bled, \nd won themselves enduring fame, none, of ail of whom I've read, Compare with—one whom 1 could name. Oh, never noble knight of old, Who bore aloft his crested shield, Who reined his mettled charger, bold To fight a foe on foreign field; Oh, never fair and famous knight, With soul elate and free from blame, \Was half so good, so brave, so bright, As he—a soldier 1 could name. No ornament his dress adorns Of floating plume or flashing gem; The simple khaki proudly: scorns The useless luxury of them Though manners, dress and courtly grace Of chivalry are gone, | claim That all their virtues [ can trace In—well, a soldier I could name. L’Envoi Ye mothers, wives and sweethearts true, Whose hearts are lit with ardent flame, Know ye a knight to whom is due This praise—a soldier ye could name? Mary Gow Walsworth. THE THUNDERSTORM icbooks.com