Life, 1920-07-01 · page 30 of 56
Life — July 1, 1920 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page addresses returning World War I soldiers. The centerpiece is a poem by Joseph Andrew Galahad welcoming the American Legion home ("pass!" meaning proceed/go forward). The poem balances patriotic sentiment with acknowledgment of sacrifice—soldiers should return to families and nation while remaining ready to defend freedom. Below are satirical "Revised Versions" of famous military quotes, rewritten as pacifist or defeatist statements (e.g., Grant's famous resolve recast as idleness). This likely mocks anti-war sentiment or isolationism emerging post-WWI. The cartoon shows a wealthy man lost in his automobile, apparently undone by recent economic hardship ("recent cyclone," likely referencing economic disruption). A separate joke about engagement rings appears unrelated to the Legion theme. The overall page reflects American society grappling with returning veterans' reintegration and post-war social upheaval.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
American Legion—Pass! [8t° the white lanes of peace once more, American Legion—pass! Back to the soil of your own native shore, American Legion—pass! Back to the mothers by whom you were born, Back to the nation whose heart strings were torn, Waiting in racking suspense for the morn— American Legion—pass! Out of the battle that’s not for forgetting, American Legion—pass! Out of the trials man-making, soul-fret- ting, American Legion—pass! Back from the victory all of us willed for you, Back from the fields where lie hearts that were stilled for you, Back to the sight of the eyes blindly filled for you, American Legion—pass! Into a future all shoulder to shoulder American Legion—pass! With heart that is steadier, step that 1s bolder, American Legion—pass! Holding the flag of the freeman on high for us, Ready again to take up arms and die for us, Crushing the Lord of the War with his lie, for us, American Legion—pass! Joseph Andrew Galahad. Soe : Wes TH center of population in good so- ciety has shifted from the drawing- room to the kitchen. SAD PLIGHT OF OLD “HI" COST A VICTIM OF THE RECENT CYCLONE Some Revised Versions “I HAVE not yet begun to strike.”— John Paul Jones. “Tam sorry I have no more strife to give to my country."—Nathan Hale, “My country, right or wrong. If right, to get her in wrong.”"—Stephen Decatur. “Turn, boys, turn! We're going to quit."—Phil Sheridan at Cedar Creek. “T propose to idle it out on this line if it takes all summer.”—U. S. Grant. An Insinuation? “| DON’T believe in long engagements. Do you?” Sympatuetic Frienp: No, indeed; ? CAN'T AND WON'T especially when one has to wait so long ‘igi ener weRWeVGUL Tei! s2E WHEAT ALE” before one becomes engaged. “NO, SIR. I'M THE VILLAGE IDIOT, AND I DON’T KNOW NOTHING.”