Life — July 24, 1919 — page 29: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration depicts a medieval or historical scene titled "In Ye Goode Olde Days: Bringing in Ye Slacker." The satirical point appears to be a commentary on "slackers"—likely referring to men who avoided military service or shirked civic duties, a concern during World War I era when Life magazine was active. The scene shows armed soldiers or authorities forcibly bringing a reluctant figure (the "slacker") before what appears to be a ruler or judge, while crowds watch from fortified positions. The archaic language ("Ye Goode Olde Days") suggests this is using historical precedent to shame contemporary shirkers—implying that in the past, such dereliction would face swift, public consequences. The satire condemns draft-dodgers by humorously suggesting they'd face harsher penalties in less civilized times.