Life, 1920-01-08 · page 10 of 44
Life — January 8, 1920 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **World War I soldiers** returning home. The poem critiques public indifference to veterans' sacrifices, repeatedly asking "Do they knock the Regular Army?"—meaning do citizens respect or acknowledge soldiers' service. The poem contrasts soldiers' hardships (fighting in France, chasing Villa, casualties) with civilians' comfortable complaints about "hard luck and bacon for breakfast." It sarcastically suggests soldiers deserve medals but would accept merely being "seen through" windows or acknowledged. The two illustrations depict working-class humor: one shows men discussing a haunted house, the other shows an "Alien Agitator" wasting time shaking a tree. **The central message**: Veterans' sacrifices are forgotten by a civilian population more concerned with petty grievances—a common post-WWI complaint about public gratitude.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Question — Question HE drafted buddies who went overseas Are gettin’ their share of praise. They're gettin’ enough of reward, if you plea To last ‘em the rest of their days: What with helmets from Huns—and the Croix de Guerre And jolly pink teas from the ladies fair. And it’s not that we're envious, not that we care— We'll cheer with the loudest and fuss and yell, But all that we're askin’ is why in hell Do they knock the Regular Army? The boys who enlisted when Bill got gay And went over to fight with France Deserve all the medals they're gettin’. But say— If they'd given us regulars half a chance We'd have been there with bells on to see ‘em through. We're never begrudgin’ ‘em what's their due. When it comes down to that we're as loyal as you And we're back of 'em all—they know it well. But all that we're askin’ is why in hell Do they knock the Regular Army? We chased old Villa all over the map Through the sand and the boiling hot sun. Tt wasn't exactly a big world scrap— There wasn't no glory—there wasn’t no fun. “YE SALD YE D-DIDN'T BELIEVE TH’ H-HOUSE WAS There was hard tack and bacon for breakfast and lunch, H-HAUNTED, Sometimes a cake of sweet chocolate to munch. “TH-THAT WUZ IN TH’ BROAD D-DAYLIGHT!” rvy and summer complaint hit the bunch— Some of us died—and some lived to tell * ry Py But allt we're askin’ is why in hell HAT you do doesn’t count. It is what the other fellow Do they knock the Regular Army? does when you do what you do. Most of us held our country dear— We sweated and worked and drilled, But we never worked to the sound of a cheer— We worked as the captain willed! Sometimes we kicked a bit, sometimes, we cussed ; Sometimes a few of us went on a bust; Sometimes a sentry, poor guy, bit the dust— And no little white cross marks the spot where he fell! But all that we're askin’ is why in hell Do they knock the Regular Army? Joseph Andrew Galahad. Alien Agitator: were! poN’T WASTE YOUR TIME SHAKIN’ THAT TREE! WE'LL CHOP IT Down! CRYSTAL GAZING comicbooks.com