Life, 1924-05-01 · page 33 of 40
Life — May 1, 1924 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents Life's satirical critique of American enthusiasm for World War I, presented as mock "Pathetic News Weekly" content. The satire mocks pro-war propaganda through several scenarios: a tearful father leaving his family for combat; soldiers receiving kisses and cigarettes from women before deployment; and politicians far from danger playing poker while soldiers die in trenches. The recurring theme attacks the disconnect between those promoting war (politicians giving speeches, comfortable generals away from frontlines) and those actually fighting and dying. References to William Jennings Bryan (the "silver-tongued orator") suggest criticism of pacifist or anti-war speakers being overshadowed. The subtitle "Greater safety for Generals and Staff Officers" particularly emphasizes the hypocrisy: military leadership stays safe while regular soldiers face carnage. The page satirizes how American society glamorized war sacrifice while insulating elites from consequences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Bigger and Better Wars (Presentation of Live's: Prize Pathetic News Weekly (Subtitle) ‘Costes the dawn of a new and more ly warlike period.” The bi hind the Chicag There Any More.” red sun setting be Stocky (Subtitle) all it be peace, or good, whole wed conflict ‘ene: Father, some, red-t with tears streaming down his face, ing the wife and kiddies good-by as he leaves for the cold, hea ridden less marts of the peace where he must earn their y H. A. breakfast food sic Suggestion: “Men Must Work yomen Must Weep.” Rollicking group of soldiers chewing from beautiful war receiving cig cigarettes, gum and kisses workers just before leaving for camp. Music “Wild, Wild Women.” (Subtitle) “Main featur lan which wa selected from nt to be good, oughtn’t it (Subtitle) “Greater saicty for Generals and Staff Officers.” Scene Army ¢ dina poker game sev miles removed fror the fre trenches. A charges a rifle and the emergency hospital squad is quickly summoned to view of the brains of at-line nervous private dis- revive the fa 2 officers. to Thee.” ANd \V 7 WHITING-ADAMS BRUSHES 52 Varieties of Nail Brushes A different Nail Brush for every week in the year. All good, some of them lower prices than others. di ‘Send for Illustrated Literature JOHN L. WHITING-J. J. ADAMS CO. Boston, U.S.A. Brush Manufacturers for Over 114 Years and the Largest in the World | TIFFANY & CO. JEWELRY PEARLS SILVERWARE PARIS — LONDON 25 RUE DE LA PAIX - 25 MADDOX STREET, REGENT STREET FIFTH AVENUE & 37 STREET New York “More mi more pull fists for the pacifi Scene: View of the mi politicians, with their foreheads 3 blood for their cou sweat px they give th try from the lecturc ,. Suggestion: “We'll All Together.” “And. lastly and longer specc silver-tongued or. nings Bryan.” ¢ Suggestion Bar.” (Subtitle) “Without expressing any opinion in the matter the Pathetic News Weekly comicbooks.com