Life, 1920-05-27 · page 7 of 44
Life — May 27, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents Philip S. McCormick's anti-war poem criticizing the economic costs of World War I. The decorative header "Life" features vignettes of domestic wartime rationing and sacrifice. The poem laments how war has depleted national resources—"nothing left on earth / That we can lay by for what it's worth"—while soldiers die. McCormick contrasts past prosperity ("heels were straight, my trousers pressed") with present hardship and debt. The satirical illustration below depicts two well-dressed gentlemen (likely politicians or profiteers) observing a vast battlefield littered with casualties. The caption "The Eastern Girl: 'GRACIOUS! DON'T YOU SIMPLY DREAD MILKING TIME?'" adds bitter irony—civilians complain of minor inconveniences while soldiers die overseas. The satire targets American complacency about war's true human cost.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Price of Things ‘OU surely have most valiant wings, Price of Things, O Price of Things! Their flap is heard by skulking booze, beds and baby shoes left on earth That we can buy for what it’s worth It seems there's nothing Which leaves us scant excuse for mirth, Price of Things, O Price of Things! How distant seems but yesterday, Wher | was master of my pay. | gave a bit and spent a bit; | even saved and lent a bit My heels were strai ( \ credit to my family crest! Price of Things, O Price of Things In overalls [I felt undr t, my trousers pressed; ist the all ve a great deal more I gave ag f war: Keturnin The former arned my country’s cheers, The latter helped the profiteers In food and clothing and in rent, In everything on which I've spent My cash, and now Im hadly bent, Price of Things, O Price of Things! "Tis well I'm strong for what may come, But hear the wail from yonder slum. The foremost name on every tongue and bitterly it’ Where earnestly the prayer is said, Is yours, “Give us this day our daily bre And starving homes mi t speed their dead ! of Things! Upon your wings, O Pric Philip S. McCormick The Eastern Girl: cractovs ! DON'T VOU SIMPLY DREAD MILKING TIME? comicbooks.com