Life, 1919-06-19 · page 13 of 42
Life — June 19, 1919 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces: **"Sheep" (poem by Jeannette Phillips Gibbs):** A satirical poem mocking literary pretension. At fashionable social gatherings, the speaker encounters people praising the "latest novel" by unnamed "modern Frenchmen." The repetition of this phrase—with characters of different backgrounds all offering identical praise—satirizes mindless conformity and status-seeking. People uncritically adopt fashionable opinions to appear cultured, following the crowd "like sheep." **"A Good Idea, Mr. Betts!":** A proposal by W.I. Betts (Y.M.C.A. worker) advocating a WWI memorial featuring dog, horse, carrier-pigeon, and mule—animals that served soldiers. The accompanying sketch titled "The Rescue" depicts a rescue dog. This serious piece honors animal service during war, contrasting sharply with the satirical poem above.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
$$, 1077 Sheep A four-thirty, Among fair ladies, lights, smart clothes and a buzz of talk, T held a cup of tea. “The latest novel?” I asked Of a girl with blue eyes and a silvery laugh. ming,” she said, “but daring. Very like the work of a certain modern Frenchman Whose name I can't recollect.” “The latest novel?” I asked Of a woman with white marcelled ha ermine and black velvet. “Charming,” she said, “ but daring. Very like the work of a certain modern Frenchman Whose name I can’t recollect.” “The latest novel?" I asked Of a man with an intellectual face and heavy brow. “Charming,” he said, “ but daring. Very like the work of a certain modern Frenchman Whose name I can't recollect.” At six-thirty, Among big chairs, soft lights and to- hacco smoke, I read the liter: “The latest nov said, “Charming, but daring. Very like the work of a certain modern Frenchman Whose name I can't recollect.” “And we, like sheep, are led astray,’ Father: yoU DON’T MEAN TO SAY THE GIRLS ARE GOING OUT TO-NIGHT! THEY T murmured. a ARE ALWAYS GADDING ABOUT. Jéunnctie Phillips Gibbs NEVER MIND, DEAK. THEY ARE TO DINE AT HOME A WEEK FKOM THURSDAY ON PURPOSE TO MEET You” A Good Idea, Mr. Betts ! W. I. BETTS, who was with the Y. M. C. A. in Fran t the front till invalided home, makes thi 1g gestion that among the many monuments which will un- doubtedly be reared to commemorate the war there should be one group to perpetuate the memory of four who served not knowing what they did nor why, unbiased by any preju- dice, unspurred by any desire for glory; who served to the uttermost because it was commanded by Man, whom they loved, and to whom they have ever rendered unthanked and unrewarded fealty, This monument should be the only one of its kind in the United States, and should stand in our nation’s capital, and should be executed by our most skilful artist—a group in recognition of the services of the dog, the horse, the carrier-pigeon and the mule. E ading critic YTHING comes to him who stays at home quictly and attends to business, THE RESCUE