Life, 1919-09-11 · page 11 of 48
Life — September 11, 1919 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Illustration: "A Detroit Idyl"** This sketch depicts a dying automobile mechanic being consoled by a company representative. The consoler lists employee benefits (cottage, scholarship fund, relief fund, car privileges) to comfort the dying man. The satire critiques corporate paternalism—companies offering modest benefits while workers remain economically precarious. The irony: despite these programs, the man is still dying, suggesting benefits mask systemic inadequacy. **Bottom Section: "Allies"** A patriotic poem about Allied nations fighting in World War I, naming specific countries (King Albert, Pershing, etc.) and their military contributions. This appears to be earnest wartime propaganda rather than satire, celebrating international cooperation against Germany. The page contrasts corporate cynicism with genuine patriotism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
last hour. A Detroit Idyl HE Company Consoler had come to at- tend the Successful Mechanic in his The S. M. lay in his William and Mary bed, and his wife knelt at his side on a rug of real Oriental pattern Under his hands he felt the damask spread ; he could smell the little car in the garage; IN THE GOOD NEW TIMES ¥, LIZ, WHO'S THE DAME JUST SPOKE TO YOU on “THAT'S THE WOMAN I USED TO COOK FOR BEFORE TIE WAR.” “WHAT DID SHE WANT?” “WANTED TO BORROW A COUPLE 0 DOLLARS.” Allies 'N the wide courtyard of the public school, Keen, merry-hearted, and gay, Heads bent together over work or play, Lads, bred of pool Their griefs and joys in sum and book and tool; Learning with quickened fervor how mischievous different race and color, one day, In red-stained towns and trenches far away, Thirty brave nations fought for free- dom's rule. Their games are all of war and vic- tory— “Til be King Albert, chasing out the Huns; Mike can be Pershing ; Haig we'll give to Lee; Sam shall be Foch; and Lars and Ted, French guns Firing in Prussia; so you each must raise Hands in salute seillaise’!” and sing ‘The Mar- Charlotte Becker. through the diamond-paned windows of his own “Type D” could see the sprinkler wetting his new cottage he privet hedge. “Cheer up, old the Company Consoler, “there is life in the old motor yet! man!” cried As long as there is a wheel to go on and a plug to spark ever say die!” said the dying man feebly, “I'm punchin’ out for the long vaca- tion.” “At least,” said the Company Con- soler, “you have the consolation of knowing that you leave the world much hetter than you came into it. Under our Building Plan you have a fine tage here all your own; under our I ployees’ Scholarship System your son and daughter are attending the Univer- sity; under our Dependent Relict Fund your wife and children will enough to keep the door; under Employees Association you have which must pleasure. You have you?” “No; no complaints.” “Oh, Henary,” said the S. M.'s wife, “you know you ain't been happy since you took this job. I've knowed it, even though you've never said a word.” have the Pleasure out of wolf from car you have gained some have no complaints, five-dollar-a-day “No, wife, I ain't been happy; but I thought I'd keep it from you, for the DOSTMASTE GENERAL WHAT'S IN A NAME? comicbooks.com