Life, 1918-10-31 · page 23 of 34
Life — October 31, 1918 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces from America's involvement in World War I. **"Litany"** is a mock prayer sarcastically listing what Americans should pray for: deliverance from pacifists, pro-Germans, profiteers, and weak newspapers. It references real WWI figures—Edith Cavell (executed nurse), the Lusitania (torpedoed ship)—and mocks American self-righteousness about fighting to make "the world safe for democracy." The tone suggests Life viewed American war enthusiasm as hypocritical, given prior neutrality and materialism. **"The Hall of Shame"** cartoon depicts figures labeled with names (OCR unclear but likely political/military leaders) displayed like museum exhibits. The title and figures on pedestals suggest these are people Life blamed for war decisions or failures—possibly pacifists, profiteers, or politicians. One soldier observes them. Both pieces criticize American society: false patriotism, profiteering, and selective blame-assignment for the war. The satire targets elite hypocrisy more than the war itself.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Litany EMEMBER not, O Lord, our past offenses, our lack of preparation,our former ignoble neutrality, neither take Thou vengeance upon us for our love of luxury and our wastefulness. Spare Thy people to be one of a legion of nations to make the world safe for democracy. Spare us, good Lord, from pacifists and pro-Germans, from Sinn Feiners and Clan-na-Gaelists, from half-baked journalists and hysterical congressmen. Good Lord, deliver us from those who outwardly preach patriotism and inwardly seek their own selfish aims; from ease of living, from vanity of locality and from all laziness, Good Lord, deliver us from weak- kneed newspapers. From special privi- leges, from financiers, profiteers and Kitchiniers, good Lord, deliver us. In all time of our tribulation, in the hour of seeming victory, from over- confidence, peace offers and from all false sentiment about the Huns, good Lord, deliver us. We Americans do beg You to hear us, that we may pur- sue Kultur to death} that we may string up the Kaiser to a tall tree; that IT BEGAN 1N AN ARGUMENT AS TO WHOSE BROTHER WILL BE IN BERLIN FIRST we may avenge the Belgians, the mur- dered fishermen of the sea, Edith Cavell and the victims of the Lusi- tania; and that it may please Thee to preserve for us the fruits of the carth forevermore. Amen. American HAVE an idea those soldier boys of ours are going to deeply resent it if we praise them too much.” “They know us too well for that.” We) CKER THE HALL OF SHAME ey Lia SOS