Life, 1919-02-27 · page 25 of 38
Life — February 27, 1919 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** Depicts returning WWI soldiers being welcomed by a pompous official who praises their "valorous deeds" and sacrifices. The soldiers, however, interrupt with cynical demands: "When do we eat? Has the country gone dry yet? Are there any live ones in the 'Follies' this year? How about a dry martini?" **The satire:** Mocks the disconnect between grandiose public rhetoric honoring war heroes and soldiers' actual concerns—food, Prohibition-era drinking, and entertainment. It critiques both government hypocrisy and soldiers' apparent materialism. **Lower sections:** Brief humorous observations about unrecognized "heroes"—ordinary men enduring domestic hardships (crying infants, shopping ordeals) and minor courtesies (removing hats in elevators). These contrast with decorated soldiers, suggesting everyday life contains its own heroism. The piece satirizes post-WWI American society: empty patriotic gestures, Prohibition tensions, and the gap between celebrated military service and mundane civilian struggles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Dignified Spokesman of Welcoming Committee: Heroes! IN THE NAME OF AMERICA, WE YOU, THE HISTORY OF YOUR VALOROUS DEEDS SHALL BE FOREVER EMBLAZONED ON OUR COUN- UTCHEON. THE NOBILITY OF YOUR SACRIFICES SHALL—— Chorus of Heroes’ Voices: WEN vo We EX THERE ANY LIVE ONES IN THE “ FOLLIES” THIS YEAR?—HOW ABOUT A DRY MARTINI? Heroes Who Receive No Medals HE, married man who walks the floor all night with a crying infant his arms. The poor devil who braves the ter- s of department stores, trying to ch a piece of ribbon for his wife. The resident of Manhattan who ven- tures to remove his hat when a lady enters the elevator. The Brooklynite who isn't ashamed of it. A Distinction HE man who opposes secret diplo- macy is the man who dreads a surgical operation because he doesn’t trust the ether.” The man who opposes open diplomacy is the man who dreads a surgical opera- tion because he doesn’t trust the doctor. RUTH crushed to carth sometimes crawls into a shell-hole and waits for Man to pass by. FAMILY PORTRAITS comicbooks.com