Life, 1918-10-31 · page 32 of 34
Life — October 31, 1918 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a wartime advertisement page (likely WWI era, given references to 1918) masquerading as public service messaging. The government and The Century Co. publishing house jointly recommend books as Christmas gifts, framing this as patriotic conservation—buying books avoids "concentrated strain" on transportation and coal supplies needed for the war effort. The "Lights on the War" section lists non-fiction books about WWI's causes, military operations, and personalities (Secretary of War Baker), positioning reading as civic engagement. The fiction sections offer escapism and moral uplift. The satirical point: wartime rationing is being repackaged as virtue. Rather than restrict consumption, authorities encourage *book* consumption specifically—it's efficient, patriotic, and improves the receiver morally. For modern readers, this reveals how governments use propaganda to make sacrifice feel like good taste and smart shopping during crises.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SESE © Two things our Government recommends this war-year as to Christmas presents:— 1) That useless, wasteful, knick-knack stuff not be given. Bre books all around. There are books for every age and need. They compliment the good taste of the receiver. They fill every requirement of a fitting Christmas present.) (2) That buying begin early so as to avoid the concentrated strain that usually comes upon selling and trans rtation just before Christmas. (Our Fall books are already distributed. Nothing else is more easily bought than books and the send- ing of them conserves a maximum of coal- and man-power.) Lights on the War STAKES OF THE WAR By Loturop Stopparp and GLENN Frank Gives the facts of race, trade and territory at issue in the war—the facts about Finland, Yugo-Slavia, Belgium, Ukraine, etc. 13 maps. $2.50. THE FLAME THAT IS FRANCE By Henry MAtuerse It won the Goncourt Prize in Paris for 1917. In it the heroic spirit of France speaks from the trenches. $1.00. AMERICA IN THE WAR By Louis RAEMAEKERS A picture panorama (100 cartoons and 100 pages of text) of tremendous history in the making by the supreme artistic genius dis- covered by the war. Quarto. $5.00. NAVAL HEROES OF TODAY By Francis A. Cottins True stories, as thrilling as fiction, of the achievements today of the men in our Navy. Illustrated. $1.50. THE BIOLOGY OF WAR By G. F, Nicotar A profound scientific analysis of war which | is at the same time a terrible indictment of the German military party, by the famous scientist who fled from Berlin. $3.50. SECRETARY BAKER AT THE FRONT | By Raven A. Haves The authentic report of our War Secretary's momentous trip to Europe in the spring of 1918, by his private secretary, Illustrated. 1.00. THE BOOK OF AMERICAN WARS By Heten Nicotay A historian of distinction and alluring style gives America’s fighting record from the birth of the nation. Illustrated. $2.00. THE RED HEART OF RUSSIA By Bessie Beatty The story of the second, or economic, revo- lution in Russia, with sidelights on that fasci- nating mystery—the Russian character. Illus- trated. $2.00. At all bookstores | | ty THE CENTURY CO. Our Best Novels THE BOOMERANG By Davin Gray A novel that has captured all the brilliance, gayety and swift action of the famous play on which it is founded. Illustrated. $1.40. MISS MINK’S SOLDIER By Atice Hecan Rice A book of stories by the creator of “ Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,” rich in the beneficent laughter and tears which the author has at her command. Frontispiece. $1.25. THE GOLDEN BIRD By Marta Tompson Daviess A delightfui love story, light as thistle-floss, set in Harpeth Valley, in Tennessee, Illus- trated. $1.40. MAGGIE OF VIRGINSBURG By Hexen R. Martin A new novel of the picturesque Pennsyl- vania Dutch by the author of “Tillie: A Men- nonite Maid.” Frontispiece. $1.40. MISS INGALIS By Gertreve Hatt The New York Times “ Distinction, skill, the fine achievement of success, are all to be found in the drawing of Miss Hall's two central characters.” Frontispiece. $1.40. HELEN OF TROY: AND ROSE By Puyctts Borrome Two stories of novelette size in Miss Bot- tome’s swiftest .anc most fascinating manner. Illustrated. $1.35. THE MERRY HEART By Hexen Raysonp Apnott A first novel by a author with a fresh touch—a love story of New England. Frontis- piece. $1.40 THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER By Resecca West The story that has won the most remarkable critical applause of all the fiction published in America in 1918, Illustrated. $1.00. 353 Fourth Ave. New York City om: Our Best for Young People THE BROWNIES AND PRINCE FLORIMEL By Pater Cox A_brand new Brownie book, with over 200 comical illustrations by the creator of the famous band of fun-makers. $1.50. OUR HUMBLE HELPERS By Jean Henri Fasre The most fascinating account, by the great French scientist and nature-lover, of our do- mestic helpers—dogs, horses, cats, chicken, ete. Mlustrated. $2.00. STORY-HOUR FAVORITES By Witneraixa Harver A collection of the best story classics for children, adapted for all ages: selected by a professional story-teller. $1.25. LOST ISLAND By Raven Henry Barsour and H. P. Hott A story of a the finding of more precious than gold. THREE SIDES OF PARADISE GREEN By Aucusta Hulett SEAMAN A thrilling mystery story for girls of from ten to sixteen, by the author of “ The Sapphire Signet,” etc, Illustrated. $1.35. THE MYSTERY OF RAM ISLAND By Jostrn BusHNnett AMES An adventure story for boys, with a back- ground of Boy Scouts, and involving a suc- cessful foiling of a gang of German. spies Mlustrated. $1.35. GIRLS OF OLD GLORY By Mary Constance Dusois A story of a group of girls in a private school doing their best for their country. Illustrated. $1.25. PATRIOTISM AND THE FLAG A book for patriotic boys and girls, giving the history of our Flag, of the Liberty Bell, a0 account of West Point, etc., etc. _ Illustrated. 75 cents. Illustrated. $1.35. A taloroe boy’s adventures on the sea and | a lost ship laden with metal ff comicbooks.com