Life, 1919-03-13 · page 39 of 42
Life — March 13, 1919 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical editorial content with advertising. The left column presents "A Card to the Public"—a satirical list of those responsible for wartime profiteering and misconduct, including publishers of patriotic songs, actors who exploited patriotism, those who sold defective goods to the armed forces, and prohibition radicals who obstructed war loans. The tone is bitterly ironic, mock-seriously proposing these groups deserve "reprisal" for their exploitation during WWI. The main illustration shows two men examining a GEM Damascene Razor—a straightforward product advertisement claiming 25 years of user endorsement. The ad emphasizes reliable performance through "actual experience." The juxtaposition is the satire's point: while the editorial denounces wartime profiteers and con artists, a full-page advertisement occupies the same space, selling consumer goods. This exemplifies the very commercialism and profit-seeking the editorial criticizes—Life itself profits from advertising while mocking those who exploited the war effort.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Card Experience us 0 THE PUBLIC: The armed | the best',| forces of the United States of | v} hoving learned on good a). FeaCher, | tit is the intention of the ‘ f f civilization to seek out and BF sh those responsible for atrocities during the war, and desir- in this work, particu- ities most ting the aforesaid armed ive notice of their will- and desire to out and ad- adequate reprisal upon. the wit: s, publishers and sing- © thousand, two hundred and illeged patriotic songs. ity or parties guilty of the term“ Sammies "as he armed forces of the onsible for some dd and adver- id armed forces age in ten easy les- ture directors who per s impersonating first lieu- wr wearing a sergeant’s © versa, of ninety-eight per cent. erse appearing in the mag- metropolitan and rural liocre actors who used the references to “our boys” to 7. Profitec ur clothi Is even less palatable s who introduced shoddy paper into our shoes, nd no some of our prepared The universal endorsement, given the GEM Razor by the hundreds of thousands of its users throughout the world, for over 25 years, has been its best salesman—men who have had actual experience, who have given the GEM the sever- est tests, are first to recommend it—millions now in use. All beards look alike toa GEM Blade—n0 pulling, no scraping, no shipping, but a clean, smooth shave—and it’s the same story blade after blade. Includes frame, shaving and strop- $100 GEM fing handles and seven Germ & Slackers, slickers and those who waght to hinder the Liberty Loan and rework drives. riot 1 Prohibition radicals hold up important war egislation introducing into pending lers intended to force their side- Outfit Blades in handsome case as =} _ Complete illustrated, or in Khaki case for taveling. Add 50 cents to above price, for Canada Gem Cutlery Company, Inc., New York Canadian Branch, S91 St. Catherine St., W., Montreal WF 1 MARRY YOU, YOU'LL AVE ULDER. RID OF THAT DOG. T DON'T LIKE | comicbooks.com