Life, 1920-07-01 · page 32 of 56
Life — July 1, 1920 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page contains WWI-era content. The top poem "Seicheprey" references the 102nd U.S. Infantry's experience at that French village, contrasting battlefield trauma with mundane office routine back home. The "Sanctum Talks" dialog satirizes anxieties about Allied victory. A character (likely representing American leadership) meets with Marshal Foch, the French military commander, discussing whether France will be abandoned if Germany survives. The satire targets American isolationist sentiment and Republican senators' reluctance toward foreign entanglement—a major 1918 political debate. The "Slow Service" cartoon at bottom uses *Alice in Wonderland* references to mock restaurant incompetence: a diner orders caterpillars, but they transform into butterflies and fly away before being served. It's a straightforward complaint about poor service, unrelated to the political content above.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Seicheprey (One Hundred and Second U. S. Infant TT say that flowers grow and yo larks sing In that wild corner, close to Seichepre Where, through that grinding night, th endless day, We stuck it out together, wondering If the line held, if help would con way Back at the office, at the dry old game. arting anew tasks dropped upon the c Noting the same old cracks upon the wall (Even the old desk blotter is the same) Can it be true, or did we dream it all? \ little interval, for so life runs— A vision, framed of splendor and glo Strange echoes sometimes reach this quiet room Faint bursts of shell, far thunder of the guns . Yet now at Seicheprey the roses bloom Francis Parsons “Now Is the Time—” “VIVE LA FRANCE!” “THE time has come,” the Walrus said, setting down his glass beside the Sanctum Talks “You know that to be so?” pitcher of ice water, “to talk of many *T do.” things.” “T salute you, Lire!” “Oh, dear!" murmured Alice. “I did “Marshal! What honor is this -you “I salute you, Marshal Foch. have conferred upon me? Be seated.” France!” “T have come to felicitate you upon the expression of your good will to my coun- “ACH, Lire! Bon jour!” so hope we wouldn't have any political speeches in Wonderland.” ve la France! Marshal, you have saved the world ‘For what?) That is what I am now asking myself. Will Germany yet win the war?” “You mean—?" “Will France be abandoned? My faith fleet has been swept from the seas, therefore the danger to ourselves and Great Britain has passed—temporari- ly. But—” “France, my friend, may soon be fight- ing alone. It is this that troubles me. I pray that it may not be so. Where is your boasted idealism?” “Apparently with a Republican Sen- ate.” SARL” “ Marshal Foch, you have but expressed the thought in the minds of all men who love the peace of the world—even though that be an idle dream, But Germany can never win. . “That is true.” BOW" SERYICE “Deep in the hearts of the American Trate Mr, Robin: THis 18 AN OUTRAGE, HEPSY. HERE WE'VE ORDERED A NICE J me . DISH OF CATERPILLARS, AND BEFORE THAT RASCALLY WAITER GETS THEM HERE people is a lasting love for France. THEY Abl TURN TO BUTTERFLIES D FLY AWAY comicbookstea |