Life, 1919-07-03 · page 3 of 52
Life — July 3, 1919 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This March 1921 LIFE page contains two distinct elements: **Left side**: A poem titled "No. 11" by Clement Wood critiquing poetry itself—satirizing pretentious, self-important poets who employ obscure references and affected language. The accompanying cartoon shows a caricatured figure in a top hat, suggesting mockery of literary pretension. **Right side**: A Colt Firearms advertisement disguised as editorial content. It uses post-WWI patriotism to market handguns for "home protection," claiming soldiers carried Colt pistols overseas and suggesting civilians now need equivalent protection. The ad targets post-war anxiety about safety. The juxtaposition appears intentional—satirizing both literary pretension and commercial opportunism exploiting public concerns, typical of LIFE magazine's satirical approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ee as << ‘It's YOUR s : ” eee Ditident, skittish and meck; Genius aspiring was very retiring In all of the strains it would speak. In search of the ego now poets with “Self must expressively strut. on Down with ignoble abasing! . \ We have made your home sale against the danger of a the Hun. Now I—I yawp! ) ig . keep it safe against ‘The good ]—the evil I! a f the dangers of the ‘ or unprotected. Get a 4 Colt. It’s the essen. Self, . |) oe tial protection you The Cosmos the apple of my I— owe your home. Poctry’s I-tecth are cut! I, the L-opener of the oyster of I-rish or I-talian, low-brow or I- brow, II yawp! Stern is our singi and Stirner! Arrogant, blatant and raw, Free rhythms screechy, with echoes of Nietzsche, And whiffs of Walt Whitman and Shaw. Loud is our I-bawl, the Self’s psychic high-ball ; F | R E A R M S Out of humility’s rut! I, the great modesty spurner! Poetry’s I-teeth are cut! VERY man of our fighting forces knows I-I yawp! bss ah; ive : hich The I-sore of Creation! now why the personal protection whic The I-lash castigating Chaos, | Uncle Sam gave him for overseas was a Colt muiswering the: eter Automatic Pistol—the official side arm of the army Outstaring the I-less Cosmos, and navy. saat a: I—L yawp! Its accuracy, safety and supreme dependability were unfailing in every peril that confronted them. Clement Wood. For your home you should not be satisfied with less. You need Colt protection. And now your dealer can supply you. Get him to show you why it is impossible to forget to make a Colt safe. “The Gun that Stopped the Hun ‘Over There.’” Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co. Hartford, Conn., U. S. A. Manufacturers of Colt’s Revolvers Colt’s Automatic Pistols Colt’s (Browning) Automatic Colt’s (Browning) Automatic Machine Guns Machine Rifles WHAT WE MAY DEVEL)? INTO comicbooks.com