Life, 1918-12-19 · page 5 of 34
Life — December 19, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page shows a satirical cartoon titled "The Most Unpopular Man in the Club," depicting a well-dressed man standing alone while others gather behind him. The caption references "Little 'I-Told-You-So' Jinx," suggesting someone who had predicted peace would come in November 1918 but was proven wrong. The accompanying poem "The Conquerors" ironically contrasts great historical conquerors (Genghis Khan, Caesar, Hannibal, Timur) with their ultimate downfall, reinforcing themes of impermanence and defeat. The "Getting Square" dialogue below appears unrelated—a brief exchange about feeding Germans and fashionable resorts. This likely satirizes someone who made inaccurate predictions about WWI's end date, now socially ostracized for their failed prognostication.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE MOST UNPOPULAR MAN IN THE CLUB LITTLE “1-TOLD-YOU-S0." JINKS, WHO, DICTED A YEAR AGO THAT PEACE WOULD COME IN NOVEMBER, 1918 The Conquerors How Genghis Khan was in his time a tower Of dreaded might, nor spared his hand to slay; | SING the world’s great conquerors since the hour When there were vaunting kings in Nineveh, \nd the proud Pharaohs held imperious power Where Nilus rolls upon its ancient way ; Since the dark night of Babylon's dismay ; Since Xerxes down upon the Grecians bore Slaves to their mad ambitions, where are they? Lo, they have passed, and will return no more! T sing the world’s great conquerors—the flower Of Macedonian monarchs, and the sway Of Hannibal, who caused tall Rome to cower: Caesar, with legions ranged in long array; The grisly Attila, who made his prey Renownéd cities, many a fateful score. Slaves to their mad ambitions, where are they? , they have passed, and will return no more! I sing the world’s great conquerors—the dower That Timur won through fray on bloody fray; witer i The Man of Destiny, who pined away, An exile upon Saint Helena’s shore. Slaves to their mad ambitions, where are they? Lo, they have passed, and will return no more! + toward whom Fate hastens day by day, ser and Ki whom we despise, deplore. Slave to your mad ambition, e’en as they, You too shall pass, and will return no more! Clinton Scollard. Getting Square ED: We're asked to feed the Germans. New: I'm perfectly willing if Hoover hands them out the same kind of portions we are served in the fashion- able resorts. comicbooks.com