Life, 1919-10-02 · page 37 of 48
Life — October 2, 1919 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a political satire mimicking Lewis Carroll's absurdist style, depicting post-WWI disillusionment. The unnamed protagonist represents idealistic observers of the peace process—likely Wilson administration supporters or League of Nations advocates. The poem catalogs failed post-war hopes: the League of Nations (meant to end war, but proving ineffectual); Wilson's Fourteen Points (supposedly agreed upon, but multiplied into contradictions); and a Senate "full of men who didn't dare" (likely referencing Republican isolationist opposition to the League). The final image—a nation seeing "things red"—suggests communist fear or general societal rage. The Carroll reference amplifies the satire: just as Carroll's characters encounter logical impossibilities, the peace-builder encounters political absurdities. The poem mocks naive idealism confronting messy political reality, particularly Senate opposition to League ratification and the treaty's actual complexity versus its promised simplicity. The bottom illustration, "How He Felt When He Was About to Propose," provides a lighter romantic subplot, contrasting personal uncertainty with geopolitical failure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ba Second Sight {A Pipe Dream a la Lewis Carroll) YE thought he saw a lovely League That pot an end to War; jooked again, and found it was (Qee dream of madness more [sort of feel,” he said, “as if The world were made of gore.” He thought he saw some Fourteen Points On which all could agree: He looked again, and found there were Three hundred, thirty-three. [f 1 impaled myself on al He said, “where would I be?” thought he saw a Senate full Of men who didn’t dare: ooked again, and found there were Insurgents everywhere. I fear they'll eat me up,” he said, “Unless I have a care.” thought he saw a Nation which Would swallow all he said: looked again, and found it was mad it saw things red. I've got another think t's coming, Ed,” he said. Wow. Ww. ye go to Europe to see ruins? Behold the prohibition mind! ft part of their outdoor pleasure in ING they wear as fine a glove as Fs possible to make. Ail for Style Siips and Name of Nearest Dealer EBRADFORD * 12 Burr Street Groversvitix, New Yorx TIFFANY & CO. JEWELRY SILVERWARE WATCHES CLOCKS STATIONERY EXPERIENCE RESOURCES FACILITIES PURCHASES MAY BE MADE BY MAIL FIFTH AVENUE & 372 STREET New YorK HOW HE FELT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO PROPOSE comicbooks.com