Life, 1919-02-27 · page 10 of 38
Life — February 27, 1919 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page contains two satirical pieces about World War I heroism and sacrifice. **"Modern Ladies in Waiting"** (top): Shows women eagerly awaiting military heroes, satirizing romanticized attitudes toward war and soldiers. **"My Hero"** (middle): A poem praising an unnamed soldier ("Arch") for various martial abilities—boxing, wrestling, football—suggesting blind admiration for combat prowess without questioning war itself. **"The Seven Wonders of the World"** (bottom): Lists national characteristics of warring nations (France's glory, Belgium's pluck, Italy's enthusiasm, Germany's "helplessness"), using bitter irony. Germany's listing as "helpless" is particularly pointed—likely mocking German military capacity or sarcastically commenting on post-war defeat. The lower illustration shows soldiers, possibly depicting the reality versus the romanticized "hero" worship above—contrasting propaganda with ground truth.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
My Hero "M just six, but Arch, he's ten You oughter see him, gentlemen! There ain't nothin’ he can't do; Cross my heart, and honest truc! Fish and swim and dive and float: Box and wrestle, row a boat, Umpire, catch, or pitch or bat. Kick a foothall high as that! Skate? If he just had the chance, He could skate from here to France Youghter see him make us drill! It’s things like that scared Kaiser Bill Why, | guess if General Foch Had known our Archie, he'd said, “Gosh! Marshal Archie, here's my hand. Til be second. You command.” Florence Hart Rutledge. The Seven Wonders of the World HE glory of France The ck of Belgium The ten of England. The ent sm of Italy. AT meres = The stre ngth of the US. “ HOW PEKPECTLY SPLENDID TO THINK YOU'KE ONE OF THE HEROES WHO WENT OVER The madness of Russia THEKE TO DIE FoR YOUR COUNTRY!” The helplessness of Germany. “LIKE H— 1 pty, MAYAM LL WENT OVER TO MAKE SOME OTITER GUY DIE FOR 1115.”