Life, 1919-09-04 · page 8 of 48
Life — September 4, 1919 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes a soldier's casual attitude toward wartime destruction. The figure labeled "R.R." (likely representing a railroad worker or military personnel) stands amid wreckage and debris, gesturing dismissively at the devastation around him. The caption "Was It Only a Joke?" suggests he treated some serious matter—possibly property destruction, negligence, or a reckless action—as humorous when it caused real damage. The image critiques how those in authority positions rationalize or minimize serious consequences through humor, and the public's willingness to accept such dismissals. This appears connected to Life's early 20th-century tradition of satirizing institutional irresponsibility and the gap between workers' casual attitudes and actual harm caused.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
390 LIFE’S Fresh Air Fund Inclusive of . Lire’s Fresit Air Fux has been in ‘ cars, Ie that thas 4443.17 @ fortnight in © connte ildren id is suppol contrib knowledged i Previously Mary LA CGR Mrs GoM Mrs. Charles Jacks Tack Parker K & 9. Lucy Rrar Allen Mrs. J. W. Roltor 1 R. George T. Wilson EL M. McBride Thee, R. Hoyt Man BR. M iy Mr. NX. LL. walrich Wm. L. Strong M. Hin Walter Carr Lewis, Ir Collections during Jily at Winnepe Chas, 1. Rerg Margaret / Elizabeth John Ke ; lames 1. Thomson ley Goddard RG ro : Mra. F. M. Case. Jr Miss Lucy Webbe Wook sin Henman ACT r MP Miss “Beatrice Rags. Mabel F. Sellew Si. Mall DR. S. of Ellen The End of Summer LTHOUGH the summer of Lire's chil- Iren’s happiness. at Fresh \ir Farm is nearing its end, the en- below are good work, which is to be perpetual. Although received late for this year, their in come accumulates to be used next sum- dowments acknowled, only just beginning thei mer, and estry summer thereafter, to bring health and happiness to some child who, through our faulty civiliza- tion, would be denied the ordinary Messings which are the inherent right of every child, rich or poor. Lire gratefully acknowledges the establishment of the following endow ments By Felix J York City, Rosen, Esq, of New WAS IT ONLY Pees’ In the name of Fenice Hageman Rosen. PNDOWMENT NO, 117 By Mrs. John Cummings of Woburn, Massachusetts, PRESH AIK ENDOWMENT NO. 118 In Memory of Dr. A.B. Hatt Ry an anonymous donor. VRESH AIK ENDOWMENT No. 110 Friexo, Morristown, New Jersey By anonymous donors, PRESIE MIR ENDOWMENT NO, 12 “In Memory of Our Oldest Son. By G. R. MeLane, New York City, Esq. of MK ENDOWMENT No. 124 In Memory of MeLase Doworntes vax Dy xe Fresh Air Ei two hundred dollars in V’ Liberty Loan 414-per-cent, bonds should he sent by registered mail to Live's Fresh Air Fund, Inc.. 17 West Thirty- first Street, New York City The income from this amount provid that every summer Vo establish a lowment ory notes or in perpetuity, a poc child will be sent from the shims of New \ Jone? York roa fortnight’s stay the fires’ uit of the country heen carried on for thirty-two y which childre ness from it A Fresh Air Endo designation its don This work has now ars, in forty thousand and hay than health time more have gained chooses Impregnable {1TH certainly is a foxy fellow He’s drawn up his will in such a that the lawy out of it than his own heirs.” “How's that?” Why, he left half his fortune to one of the best lawyers in the country, provided he saw it that the other half went to Smith’s children intact.” rs can't get more Beas iT had been discharged. Ex- tracting a five-dollar bill from her wage-oll, she threw it to F Then the shocked mistress heard her ¢x- claim: “Sure 'n'T niver fergit a frind; that’s fer helpin’ me wash the dishes.” comicbooks.commy