Life, 1918-10-03 · page 12 of 34
Life — October 3, 1918 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a "Revised" version of the Biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son, recontextualized as early 20th-century American satire. The text modernizes the classic story with references to contemporary concerns: the younger son fights in WWI (Lafayette Escadrille, U-boats, the Lusitania), receives "Preparedness" indoctrination, and upon returning home, the father celebrates with a Ford automobile and grape juice—likely referencing Prohibition-era social debates. The cartoons illustrate specific scenes with period clothing and settings. The satirical point appears to target American isolationism, military preparedness movements, and moral attitudes during or shortly after WWI, using the timeless parable to critique contemporary social anxieties. The caption references "French General Musta" (unclear figure), suggesting Franco-American military relations as context.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
480 “LIFE: The Parable of the Prodigal Son CERTAIN Pacitist had twee se And when ¢ his father younger of the lito him, J will g ion y ggods which falleth no man ¢ calle rose ticket tivided them his living thered all together and journeyed to. And he went and joined himself to the Laiayette [sew drille of that country, and they sent him inte the sky t fight the Hun And he filled the Hu xave him much praise with machine-gun bullets, sud ail And when the U-boats sank the Lusitania he said, How hong, my fathe are preaching Ped any- and | know the Boche at first h will arise and go unto my i and will say unto him, Father, 1am for Preparedness before all things else. call me © hat listen to my tale of these people's foul deeds before thou raiseth And thou mayest not wish thy voice against war And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off his father saw the ribbon of the Legion of Honor on his breast, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him: And the son said unto him, Father, | am still an unbe liever in thy doctrines and am strong for Preparedness, even though [am a Pacifist’s son. But the father said to the servants, Bring forth the Ford and put him in it, and bring hither the grape juice and open it and let us drink and be merry For this my son is one hundred per cent. American, and for that I rejoice. And they began to be merry Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house he heard a jazz hand record And he called one of the servants, and asked what this ting meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath opened the grape juice because he hath re ceived him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out and entreated him. And he ans years do I serve thee, voting each four years for W. J Bryan and speaking at all times against Preparedness, and ingle bottle, that | might swering said to his father, Lo, these many thou never gavest me even make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come that has made of us a laughing stock and of our belicis a joke thou hast taken him into thy Ford and opened for him the grape juice And he said, Son, thou hast ever been of my mind and all my beliefs are thine But it is meet that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother has red blood in his. veins and hath rescued the family from Pro-Germanism forever. “NOW, RERTIE, TEYOUTRE VERY GOOD TL. GIVE YOU A PENNY.” “PM APRAID LCAN'T AFFORD TO HE GOOD FER LESS'N TWO CENTS: GRAN MAS NOT THE WAY PRICES IS TO-DAY.” Internal HLL: How do yon feel after those green apples? Sonne Asif Thad a Boche inside of me “THIS IS A HELLOVA PLACE T’ SEND A GUY.” “YEP, THE FRENCH GENERAL MUSTA THOUGHT WE Was MARINES,” comicbooks.com