Life, 1918-12-05 · page 57 of 76
Life — December 5, 1918 — page 57: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents Uncle Sam's personified gifts to Allied nations during World War I. To "John Bull" (Britain), he sends forgiveness and friendship cement to bind nations together. To Russia, he offers a subscription to "World Democracy" but cautiously—suggesting wariness despite alliance. To Italy, he sends practical supplies (coal, wood, wheat, sugar) rather than luxuries, implying Italy's recent entry into the war and uncertain loyalty. To France, he offers himself emotionally and materially, expressing romantic devotion to France's "undying glory." The accompanying sketches show Uncle Sam with Allied representatives and a mixed-breed dog symbolizing the Allied coalition's disparate members (English bull, French poodle, Italian greyhound, Belgian griffon, Boston terrier). The satire reflects American attitudes toward each ally: protective paternalism toward some, cautious skepticism toward others, and sentimental reverence for France.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Christmas Uncle Sam Presents His Christmas Gifts TO JOHN BULL D' {Kk COUSIN JOHN: I forward you herewith, by he new American merchant marine, a crate of forge iulness of the past, large hopes for the future, and a canis- of my friendship cement, which is guaranteed to hold fast, for the benefit of posterity, any two countries hitherto drawn together by ties of blood and humanity and a common peril. Please place these somewhere in your house in a c spicuous place, where they will he a continual reminder of Yours for world health, TO RUSSIA r Friend: Enclosed please find a card, property filled hich, if presented any time before Christmas td wry Agency, will entitle you to five years’ annual sub- prion to World Democracy, delivered postage free, at rdoor, It isn't as much as I should like to give, and I is, not because you cn't treated me quite right cherish no animosities), but—because too much just now might overshoot the mark. In the pack: you will also find a cornucopia of Faith, which is merely trifling token showing that I still believe in you. When you get things straightened out I shall be glad to back ye up with necessaries. In the meantime, don't let the home fires of patriotism quite die out Fraternally yours, “WHO GOES THER “HE'D MAKE A FINE MASCOT, MISTER, COS HE'S AN ALLI MOUND, HE'S A MIXTURE OF ENGLISH BULL, FRENCH POODLE, ITALIAN GRAYHOUND, BELGIAN GRIFFON AND BOSTON TERRIER.” TO ITALY Dear Brother 1 was going to trim a Christmas tree and fill the stockings of quite a number of your sons, who have been making my country their home for some years past, but 1 find that most of them have gone back to you to help you lick Austria Tam sending you a box of coal and wood and wheat and sugar, believing this year that something of real value will be better appreciated than anything more fanciful. With it 1 3 miration tablets. Whenever you get the idea that 1 don't send a can of ad- think you are the real thing in Allies, take one of these tablets. Yours for an open Adriatic, TO FRANCE Beloved: 1 wanted to send yor gift this Christmas that would reveal something of thought and love of your undying g'ory somehow it all seemed unworthy Of course, the doughboys and the food and coal and those material things are yours as a matter of course. But what else may I do? All inadequate as it may seem, I send you —myseli—for better or worse, for richer or poorer, take me, beloved! I am rough in spots, but I have a good heart. Ever yours, comicbooks.com