Life, 1918-09-19 · page 24 of 34
Life — September 19, 1918 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Prohibition's imminent arrival in America. The "Valedictory of John Barleycorn"—a personification of alcohol—is a mock-elegiac poem mourning booze's death. It references Billy Sunday (a famous temperance evangelist who supported Prohibition) becoming President, predicts breweries will "lie down and die," and laments that "bone-dry" laws will end the "juice that makes men generous." The satire mocks Prohibitionist ideology by suggesting alcohol was the sole source of human generosity and that without it, society will collapse into joyless tedium ("go to bed"). Below this, "Not Only Brave But Generous" presents a genuine letter from a WWI Army officer describing soldiers' charitable contributions to an orphan fund—apparently presented as counterargument to the satirical poem above, proving soldiers *are* generous without alcohol. The page also contains acknowledgments of donations to "Life's French Orphan Page," including one honoring Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt (Theodore Roosevelt's son, killed in WWI).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
420 “LIFE: Valedictory of John Barleycorn T for a little while, the cup that cheers; lifts the shade of the descending years, Will cheer us still, and then will pass away, Leaving us naught but memories and tears. The farmers will quit raising corn and rye, (They'll not be needed in a world gone dry) And Billy Sunday will be President, 4 And all the brewers will lie down and die! The morning's morning, with its amber light, Which now we hail, a vista of delight, Will soon be gone; its fragrance be no more; For morning's morning, it will be good night! The oil of gladness that now soothes our woes, And paints with purple many a noble nose, At last must yield; brought down to base defeat y the pale stuff that’s used for washing clothes! Even the pallid beer is doomed to go, For “bone-dry " is the edict e “pro” And money will be useless when the juice That makes men generous has ceased to flow! ‘The places where we long have drunk and fed— Rut mostly drunk—until, with addled head, We wended homeward, will be closed and dark, And nothing left to do but—go to bed! Will Thomas Withrow. Not Only Brave But Generous FE. know our soldiers can fight. Here's evidence that they have other qualities than bravery. The let- ter speaks for itself np Ordnance Office, Ga., Sept. 1, 1988 We have collecte five hundred and twenty-three dollars J ten cents (35 the check enclosed. Just a line about the collection. The company is a little over one hundred strong. A number of the men are for cigners—at least twenty, The total pay roll for the month was $2,433.05. you see they gave more than one-fifth ——— of their pay. Twenty-seven dollars LOUIS BOVQUENCE. — was given by the Engineer detachment pany 2344 of fourteen men, the remainder by the company and five officers. This amount was given voluntarily and by every man except one. been thirty-four years in the army, and the spirit of not only this company, but all, is the best [ have ever seen. The check will take care of seven kiddies and leave a small sum over. This can be given towards another baby. Kindly make out receipt to the 107th Ordnance Depot Company, Camp Sordon, Ga, With best wishes for the continued success of your fund and Lire, I remain, very sincerely, J. McLaney, Captain, Ord., U.S. A. You will find / Lire has received, in all, $247,208.80, from which we have remitted to Paris 1,363,147.43 francs. In behalf of the babies we gratefully acknowle: “In memory of Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt,” for Babies Nos. 3057, 3058 and 3059...... “In token of Life's French Orphan Page, Fdgar Plummer, Wilkes Barre, Pa., for’ Babies Nos. “joi5 ‘a “ Scoco Chicago Baby Fund Club. for Baby No, 3063 “Allied War Workers,” of Tamipico, Mexico, for Baby Elizabeth jane Tastings, Neb, for’ Baby No. 3068 in Duer Kline, Hastings. > aby No. 30/9 do Mrs J.T .. for Babies 3 ind 3071 eltstns “ ‘ Mrs. LR. . Paul, Minn. for’ Baty t Anne Witlets; “Shields, Pa. for Baby’ > 3 G, Purinton, Wash D.C. for Baby > French’ War Orphan Fund of Hancock County, Oh Rahy No. . sivenpiet ox Mrs. Elfa Mou i Babies > of the Station. through Mescrs Dowell, : y and A. J. Hansli, for Rabies and x eager edrika Brown, New’ York City St Louis, Mo. for’ Babies 3 cnnington, Vt.. for Haby No. 308) + Mercersburg. y her first. birthday, rendent Order Pe of “America, Denver. Colo. through Fr Goudy, Grand Sire, for Raby No The Dixie’ Rovers,” Chicago. ‘Til tor Haby ‘No. 308 Mrs. William M, Reynolds, Oxford, Pa.. for Raby No. 3089 Mrs. W. A. Clark, Jr Los Angeles, Cal, for Babies Now ‘nck, 19.3098 eee suettstoaateveee American Fire’ Fighters’ Fund, ‘coliccted through’ the Fire : ew York City, for Raby Now tain. Officers and Crew of the U, $. 8, Baltimore, for 300. of and B03. veo: town, Philadelphia, Pa, for Baby No. grow Grdnance Depot Company. Camp Gordon, Ga., for Babies Nos. 3106 to gris, inclusive. ....-. a Mant People,” for Babies Nos. 3rty and 3ita. Mrs, William N, Swift, New Bedford, Mass.. $73: York City, $73: “In memory of David | Francisco, Cal, $146; HM. H. and A. M idge, Mass., Mildred V._ Mo : “The Whitney Children." Glen Cove M. Hoyt, San Francisco, Cal. $732 C. M, W,, $730; B.S. and ALF. iL. Je w York City, $73; Llclen ipeton, Del $73: J. Henry Meyers San’ Francisco, Cal Julia White Brown, Winchend the ce LOUIS FORT, BABY 2477, AND 1118 Louise STOCK, MOTHER BALY 2633 comicbooks.com