Life, 1919-01-30 · page 29 of 34
Life — January 30, 1919 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of WWI-era content: **"Modesty Becomes the Brave"** (left) is a fable by Emma Upton Vaughn using dogs as allegory. A large "neutral dog" watches smaller dogs fight a bulldog without intervening—until directly threatened. He then joins the fight and takes credit for victory, declaring "I did it! I won the War!" This clearly references **America's initial neutrality during WWI and reluctance to enter the conflict**, then joining late (1917) while later claiming major credit for the Allied victory. The moral critiques both isolationism and undeserved boasting. **"Velvet Joe to the Shipbuilder"** (right) is a tobacco advertisement using patriotic verse. It reassures shipyard workers ("Velvet Joe") that manufacturing ships equals combat heroism, praising their contribution to defeating "the Hun" (Germany). This represents **WWI-era propaganda elevating industrial labor as patriotic duty**, encouraging workers' morale during wartime production efforts. Both pieces reflect American post-WWI attitudes: pride in victory, debate over America's role, and celebration of collective national effort.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Modesty Becomes the Brave LARGE dog was walking along a country road. He could scarcely he called a mongrel, in the derisive ame. yet it was certain that) many met in him. turn of the road he saw three gs ahead of him. One. a very <mall dog, was considerably in the lead. The other two were of middle size. All pacing sedately along, at- » their own business. ya large bulldog parted the tthe side of the road and Lon the smallest dog. Seeing this the ovo dogs in the-rear hastened ez but'so sudden and feree Jaught that before they ) the scene of battle the had shaken the little dog cnsibility, and flung him, bat- tered and bleeding, to the side of the road The middle-sized dogs grappled with the bulldog, and fur began to fly, and blood to flow, Sometimes the two dogs got the hetter of it, but often they were the worse-sufferers, The large neutral dog settled back on his haonches and watehed the conflict His attitude was one of watchful wait- ing. Rut there seemed to be some dis- agreement among his members. First one paw and then another would start forward, but would be curtly ordered back by the head. One specially large stroug claw on the right forefoot seemed determined to join the fray, but was sternly repressed by the head. After a long struggle the middle- sited dogs showed signs of weakness, but they still fought bravely on, though covered with mud made from blood- soaked dust. The little dog, too, had got hack into the fight, and was giving 2 good account of himself. Once, in a lull of the battle, the bull- dog turned and cast a baleful glance back at the neutral dog. His look plain- ly said: “After I've finished these I'll not stand any nonsense from you!” Then the neutral dog sprang forward end joined the battle against the bull- dog. Once in the battle he fought vell. Secing this the nearly exhausted * friends took fresh courage and vigor, and the four soon chased the aggres- sor, torn and bleeding, back into the bru But the erstwhile neutral dog swelled up with great pride and trotted down the road barking out: “I did it! 1 won the War!” Emma Upton Vaughn i ARRY you? Never!” exclaimed the lovely girl. “You're a joke, and. being an annual subscriber to Lire, I know what a joke is.” Velvet Joe to the Shipbuilder Don't think yo’re less a fighter for workin’ here, my son— Yo’ made the ships that made the trips that helped to lick the Hun; Yo're guns are rapid-firers an’ the rivets that they drive. Kept poundin’ home the lesson that beastliness can’t thrive. So fire away! That history will say, now we have won: “He made the ships that made the trips that helped to lick the Hun.” poet foe Made from the best Kentucky Burley Tobacco aged in NA- 15c TURE’S Way—The Right way Velvet Joe, 4241 Folsom Louis, Mo., for his 1919 comicbooks.com