Life, 1918-10-10 · page 9 of 33
Life — October 10, 1918 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains WWI-era satirical content attacking pacifism and draft resistance. The top story "War Finance" mocks the Liberty Bond and War Stamp programs through dialogue between a bond and stamp about their relative importance. The main narrative, "An Unsolved Problem," depicts a character accused of being a German spy—a common wartime paranoia theme. He admits to being a pacifist and conscientious objector, claiming he cannot confess to being German because "all my witnesses are pro-Germans." The bottom cartoon answers children's question "What were you doing in the Great War?" with figures labeled "Many of us," "More of us," "Most of us," "Almost none of us" (holding "Pacifist" sign), and "all the rest of us." This directly ridicules pacifists and draft resisters as a tiny, contemptible minority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
War Finance AID the Liberty Bond To the small Thrift Stamp. “You're as green as a pond, And you stick when damp Said the Stamp, “ That's true: And I'm cheap, too, maybe ; But a Bond, like you, Is a War Stamp’s Baby!” Arthur Guilerman, An Unsolved Problem OR some time T had made up my mind he was working for the Kaiser that he was, in fact, a German spy le Ne ste: night. He with other Germans ing into his house had clandestine mec He denounced Great Britain openly. And so I determined to break news to him, and for this purpose Hed on him one evenin tly, after Thad dso you have f Well, my friend, what 1 pleas md me ont, have yc re you going to do about it?” “That's what I called I said, ansiousty, * to sce you you admit at you are Gern Oh, certainly.” an spy en what would you suggest?” I confess,” he replied, “that something I have often pondered over ot have notified the authori- is I suppose ties, as ustral? “Oh, certainly, The moment T sus pected you. T sent. them word, but it’s against the. rules to do anything about Li Many of us More of us “WHATS THE ue MATTE MAS JUST HEA SOMES GETTING HEMSELE wir “No. they have mething, or there is the German spies until after really done most pos! “Yes, TE know,” he repl fully, “there's the rub. Twas 1 they would intern me for a few weeks, T need rest— that.” “Couldn't you but there's small chance of confess that you T asked. good would that do? are a German spy? “What They know it now, but wouldn't convict me unless Th and all witnesses are pro-Germans, and not You witnesses, my credible, see how hopeless TY | Bons {| ** Almost none of us Most of us Wis) MAST HULL? WAS HE CONE CKAZY? S COMING HOME FROM FRANCE, IN FORM To WELCOME MEM.” “Well, om rd get v your work, What are you en- ed i I'm getting 1 to our submarines on the cc now system of signals st, and ging for a couple of subma- But you sec, they can't because I'm doing rest. me merely th In America you have to wait Belic when T say there is no chance of your until the thing is done © me, having me apprehended as a German spy” “ But My voice qu I'm beyond the draft age, and must do something may turn up,” 1 said You see, all the rest of us. AN ANSWER TO OUR CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS “WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THE GREAT WAR?” comicbooks.com