Life, 1919-08-07 · page 18 of 44
Life — August 7, 1919 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct items: **Top cartoon:** A humorous illustration of a child's first beach experience, where towering waves appear enormous and terrifying from a small child's perspective—a visual joke about scale and perception. **Middle section:** A formal letter from the French Ambassador to the U.S. (Jusserand) honoring *Life* magazine's editor James Metcalfe with the Legion of Honor. This appears genuine—France was recognizing *Life*'s pro-Allied stance during WWI (note the 1919 date, just after the war ended). The Ambassador praises the magazine's support for France, her "cause," and orphans. **Right side:** Romantic poetry and an unrelated cartoon about "Colonel Tippler" discovering blasting results—appears to be separate satirical content. **Bottom:** Brief social satire: "Anti-Climax" jokes that after civilization provided drinking, smoking, and modern dances, mankind demanded "a real snake in our garden"—Civilization then produced "a Reformer" (social reformers were common targets of *Life*'s satire). The page primarily showcases the magazine's prestige and satirical sensibility circa 1919.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HOW IT SEEMED TO LITTLE WILLIE THE FIRST TIME HE WENT TO THE BEACH From France HE following letter needs no explanation to the readers of Lire: AmBassape pe FRANCE A WASHINGTON Avenne du President Wilson Paris, April 4, oro. Deak Mk. Mereacrt It affords me particular pleasure to inform you, by order of my Government, that they have named you a Knight of the Legion of Honor Their desire was thus to show their high appre- ciation both of your personal merit and of the friendly and generous attitude of Lire toward my country, her cause, her orphans. Lire has so behaved as to still increase the hereditary sympathy between our two republics ; which is of importance not only to themselves, but, as I take it, to the world alse. The insignia of the Order are being sent by the pouch of the French Consul General, and. will reach you at the same time as this note. The brevet will follow later Believe me, with best compliments and with heartfelt gratitude. Very sincerely yours, Jusserano, Jastes S. Metcatre, Esq., Lire, New York City. Onmnipresence HIS morning I stood on the top of a hill And watched the dawn-glory fade. And I wandered away from the torrid heat OF noon, in a forest glade. Then to-night, in the twilight’s purple gloam I found by the brook such a dear little place Yet—all T have seen through the livelong day Was your face, (Oh, T love you!) Your face! The air was alive from daybreak till dusk With the lilt of a rill and the song of a bird But the slow, sweet music that thrills through your voice Was all of the sound that I heard And over my check, in playful caress, The frolicsome wind blew a puff of sand And a twig brushed my hair, But all that I felt Was the touch of your tender hand! Joseph Andrew Galuh SAV THOUGHTS OF COLONEL TIPPLER WHEN IE DISCOVERS. THE RESULT OF THE BLASTING NEXT DOOR Anti-Climax Ci itz ATION having taught men to drink, women to smoke and children to do the modern dances, clapyed her hands in joy. But mankind was not satishied with th minor vices Give us a real snake in our garden,” was the cry Whereupon Civilization labored and brought forth—a Reformer EFORE a girl marries she prays that she ima him a good wife, and after marriage she asks the | ¢ him a better husband. comicbooks.com