Life, 1923-03-01 · page 13 of 36
Life — March 1, 1923 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Congressional debates over Army budget reductions. The dialogue between "Files-on-Parade" (a soldier character) and a "First Sergeant" mocks Congress's cost-cutting measures—described as "cuttin' down the Army" and reducing pay while "takin' all our buddies off." The illustration depicts Noah's Ark filled with animals, captioned "Day by day, we are getting wetter and wetter." This uses the Biblical flood metaphor to suggest the Army is metaphorically drowning under budget cuts, with soldiers like animals helplessly aboard a sinking vessel. The satire implies Congress is destructively dismantling the military while claiming to strengthen it—making soldiers unable to speak freely without consequences. The piece expresses satirical outrage at perceived legislative incompetence threatening national defense.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE “Further Army Cuts Contemplated” —Newspaper Headline (With a Few Apologies to Kipling, but Not One to Our Legislators.) on-Parade. Sergeant said. “To turn you out, to turn you out,” the old First Ser- “And the captains and lieutenants, too, must keep their ecant said. : thoughts in check, “What makes you look so mad, so mad?” said Files-on- For they know that if they say a word they'll get it in Parade. the neck, kin’ I'll be fired, too,” the old First Sergeant Though they realize the U. S. A. is headed for a wreck, “W' AT is our Congress blowin’ for?” said Files- “They want to swear, but do not dare,” the old First ‘I'm thi said. While they're ruinin’ the Army there in Congress.” “For they're cuttin’ down the Army, and they’re cuttin’ down the pay, The regiments are hollow squares, more hollow every “And are they gettin’ by with it?” said Files-on-Parade. “The Army’s fightin’ hard for life,” the old First Ser- geant said. “What's that that whimpers overhead?” said Files-on- Parade. “Another bill is passin’ by,” the old First Sergeant said. “What inakes the Colonel breathe so hard?” said Files-on- “For they’ve done the U. S. Army, ’tis a cause of great larade. elation, : ‘He's holdin’ of his temper in,” the old First Sergeant That none can ever call us now a Military Nation. da. Ho! the Bolsheviks are grinnin’ at their doctrine’s propa- “What makes the majors look so red?” said Files-on- gation, Uarade, . After ruinin’ the Army there in Congress!” A.C. M. A. They arc takin’ all our buddies off, and all our. pride While they're ruinin’ the Army there in Congress.” Noah (taking observations from the Ark): Day by day. we are getting wetter and wetter. comicbooks.com