Life — December 26, 1918 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine features a patriotic illustration titled "The Spirit of Lincoln Still Lives," showing a figure with outstretched arms flanked by two historical scenes labeled 1861 and 1918. The illustration invokes Abraham Lincoln's legacy to contextualize America's involvement in World War I (which the U.S. entered in 1917). The paired dates reference the Civil War era and the recent Great War, suggesting America's continued moral mission—from preserving the Union to supporting the Allied cause. The accompanying text poses rhetorical questions about America's duty and humility in the war effort, acknowledging the greater sacrifices of France and Britain while asserting America's role in revealing "the spirit of the real America to the world." The lower section advertises *Life* subscriptions as a patriotic Christmas gift for soldiers and sailors, directly monetizing wartime sentiment.