Life, 1919-04-03 · page 22 of 60
Life — April 3, 1919 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Poetry ("April"):** M.L. Hamuiel's romantic verse personifies April as an indecisive woman choosing between gray and blue dresses for her lover (the World). The metaphor celebrates spring's unpredictable beauty—whether sad or joyful, April charms regardless. This is straightforward romantic literature without political content. **The Cartoon ("Secure"):** This is sharp political satire about government hiring practices during the Red Scare era. Briggs and Gaices discuss "von Gluten," clearly a German-sounding name, whom they identify as a dangerous Bolshevik with radical views including free love advocacy. The punchline—that the administration will simply "give him a job"—mocks government incompetence or hypocrisy: despite identifying him as an ideological threat, bureaucratic indifference ensures his employment anyway. This reflects 1920s anxiety about communist infiltration and government ineffectiveness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE- April PRIL, uncertain, peeped through her curtain Woven of cloudmist, rainbow and dew, Finding confusing the matter of choosing For the day's wearing, a gray gown or blue. Soft on her feet were shoes of green velvet; Bright on her head was a daffodil crown. April, uncertain, drawing her curtain, Looked at the World with a smile and a frown Waited the World (and the World was her lover) “What shall I wear for his winning?” said she “Blue, for nis gladness ?—gray, for his sadness? How shall I dress for my lover to see?” Eager to press and caress her he waited— Little he cared what his lady might wear! April, uncertain, holding her curtain, Smiling or frowning, to him would be fair! April, uncertain, drawing her curtain (Close, lest the eyes of her lover see through), Smiling and sighing, fingers fast fying, Put on both dresses, the gray and the blue! Waited the World, to fold her and hold her! (Little he guessed of his lady's intent.) So, still uncertain, lifting her curtain, Down to the arms of her lover she went! ML. Hammel, INSIDIOUS INFLUENCE OF THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES Secure RIGGS: That chap von Gluten is extremely undesirable as a citizen, isn’t he? Gaices: Yes, he is a Bolshevist at heart, entertains the most unstable theories, believes in free love and is most unreliable. “Don't worry about him. The administration will probably give him a job.” “For it’s always fair weather When good fellows get together.”