Life, 1918-10-10 · page 23 of 33
Life — October 10, 1918 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on wartime morale-boosting through flattery—specifically how women's indiscriminate praise undermines genuine recognition of actual war effort. ## The Main Story/Cartoon The narrative describes a man at a patriotic gathering who feels validated when a woman praises his war work. His pride deflates when he realizes she gives identical compliments ("It's simply wonderful!") to every man she encounters—it's mechanical flattery, not genuine appreciation. ## The Point The satire mocks how wartime propaganda and social pressure create hollow, repetitive praise. The woman, "Mrs. Roarer," is revealed as all talk—she does nothing substantial herself but performs patriotism through glib compliments. Mrs. Tomson's final comment ("Don't you believe it!") exposes the fraud. ## The War Posters Above The crude wall posters ("BUY A BOND," "BUST THE KILLER," "KEEP THE KILLER RUNNING," "BUY MORE BONDS") represent the relentless, repetitive messaging that parallels the woman's empty platitudes—both are wartime noise rather than substance. The satire targets superficial wartime patriotism and the gap between performative support and actual contribution.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DO NOT DEFACe THis watt WR PomCrY oF Tee Law, “It’s Simply Wonderful!” NY INED up as I was in the crowd at A patriotic gathering in the home iriend, I was trying to reach Tor whose partly bald head I saw occasionally submerging on the other of the long room, when she came «in the crush! I had known her ly before the war tractive woman, w she smiled me gently It's simply wonderful the work you doing in the war!" she said. “It ces me awfully proud to hear of men ke you!" Now, as a matter of honest ord, | had for some little time been retly ashamed of myself, to. think w little I had been doing; yet, now at she had spoken of it, I began to fccl my chest swell up. After all, if comparative stranger held that opinion, there must be something in it. 1 was cro of the home trenches, hitherto + modest to admit it to myself. Beau- Vifal and discriminating lady! Nothing at all!" I replied jauntily, I was about to add modestly to this when she floated away, borne off irre- KEEP THe Ke NG @ a Gr. BUy MORE HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE WAR POST sistibly by the current. In another mo- ment, however, I heard her saying (with her back toward me) to another man in the crowd, who faced her: It’s simply wonderful the work you are doing in the war. It makes me awfully proud to—" So there was another man there as wonderful as I! But, after all, I began immediately to reason to myself that was nothing strange, as it was a thoroughly patri- otic crowd. Buoyed up with this com- fortable thought, I toward Tomson's bobbing head. Then, a curious eddy, once set myself. sternly swung around by more I heard that sweet voice, this time addressing a third man. And she was also saying to him: “It’s simply wonderful the work you are doing in the war. It makes me—" Now the thing got me, and my old humility came back with a rush, But she was so hand- some and fresh-looking and cheerful, and certainly interesting, so, without her perceiving it, 1 kept within hearing as we both eddied about in the stream. Yes, it was all pretty much the same message, varied slightly, but still un- mistakably the same. “It's simply wonderful the work you are d the war—" to the fourth: to the fifth man she said it with equal enthusiast Then I reached Tomson— his wife, who knew everybody “Who is that attractive-looking woman over there?” I said, indicating my beautiful lady used to know her, but I can't remember her name.” mson’s face brightened caught her “Oh!” he cried, “that’s young Mrs Roarer. Say, old fellow,” he cav me by the arm, “maybe she isn't patri- otic! Why, it’s simply wonderful the work that woman is doing in the war. Makes me proud—" Mrs. Tomson standing by his side, withered him with alook. Then she turned to me. “Nonsense!" she said. “Don't you believe it! She has scarcely d thing! But, oh, how she loves to talk! ne any You men are so. stupid about some things!" she added with quict finality EVISED VERSION Pack up those helmets in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile! comicbooks.com