Life, 1918-10-03 · page 7 of 34
Life — October 3, 1918 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains WWI-era patriotic poetry and a satirical cartoon about the war's persistence. The two poems at top celebrate soldiers' homecomings—first "Johnnie," then "the Yankees"—reflecting American optimism about victory. However, the subtitle "A Gradual Evolution" suggests this optimism is misplaced. The cartoon below, titled "Wet Weather," depicts two dogs (François and Sandy) discussing the war. François asks "what makes you think the war is nearly over?" Sandy replies "hasn't my master just gone over to stop it?"—a sharp joke mocking American confidence that U.S. entry would quickly end the conflict. The satire targets naive wartime assumptions: the poems suggest endless cycles of soldiers departing and returning, while the cartoon explicitly questions whether American involvement will actually end the fighting. The "gradual evolution" suggests the war will persist far longer than civilians hoped.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE A Gradual Evolution As I used to hear it sung some fifty years ago HEN Johnnie comes marching home again—Hurrali! Hurrah !— When Johnnie comes marching home again—Hurrah ! The men will cheer, the boys will shout, And the ladies they will all turn out, And we'll all feel gay when Johnnie comes marching home. As [hope to hear it sung within the next few months When the Yankees come sailing home again—Hurrah! Hurrah !— When the Yankees come sailing home again—Hurrah ! The men will chi the boys will shout, And the ladies they will all turn out, And we'll all fe when the Yankees ne sailing home, 1s it will be sung in Berlin and other parts of Germany in the near future: When Wilhelm comes limping home again—Ach baht! Ach bah!— When Willie comes sneaking home again—Ach bah !— The boys will jeer, the girls will hoot, The men will all apply the boot, And we'll all feel mean when Willie comes limping home. HEPA Wet Weather NOTHER quota of dusky patriots had departed on a troop train for a draft cantonment. Mrs. Rufus Ras- tiis Johnston Browne hadn't been there “Liftian, did you weep?” she asked a iuckier sister. “Did T weep! Woman, I had a cloud-burst Francois: WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THE WAK IS NEARLY oveR? Sandy: WASN'T MY MASTER JUST CONE ovER To stor IT? comicbooks.com