Life, 1928-01-26 · page 13 of 34
Life — January 26, 1928 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains satirical commentary on World War I. The "Glossary of War Terms" on the left mocks propaganda and military jargon—defining concepts like "War Propaganda" as exaggeration about enemy brutality, and "War Spirit" as peer pressure disguised as patriotism. The cartoons below illustrate romantic regret and financial hardship during wartime. "Regret" shows a man remembering he promised to buy his girlfriend ribbon, explaining his tardiness; "Tragedy" depicts a father unable to give his son spending money, only able to "gimme a dollar." The bottom cartoon shows two men in top hats, one inviting the other to a joint with a "good limit"—likely commenting on wartime social venues or illegal establishments operating despite restrictions. The overall theme critiques how war disrupts ordinary life and civilian morale.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Glossary of War Terms 7 AR: A sanguinary conflict be- tween two or more nations, or parts of nations, in which God is always on each side and the Devil on the other, sometimes caused by Militarism: What the other side is always guilty of, and opened by a Declaration of War: A carefully worded communication from one na- tion showing that the fault is all the other fellow’s, and Breaking Off Diplomatic Rela- tions: Sending home the consul and all his wife’s relatives, followed by a Cali for Volunteers: Signing up the scrappy fellows who want to tear right into it and lick the whole world before it knows what hit it, which is aided by War Propaganda: The publica- tion of news items and bits of history showing that the people of the other country are brutes, butchers, etc., and that their ancestors have all been morons for the last thousand years, for the purpose of arousing the War Spirit: The spirit that makes a necktie salesman want to shoulder a gun that he can’t shoot, and women to knit socks that nobody can wear, and that otherwise helps out Conscription: A universal expedi- ent in war-time which, no matter how patriotic you may be, makes you dig up all the reasons in the world why the other fellow should be taken be- fore you are to follow the I meant to kiss fair Sally, And then I thought I'd wait. Why did I shilly-shally Until too late? Why didn't I just do it, When lips were coyly pursed? But Sally beat me to it And kissed me first War Leaders: lines, and be a War Hero: Any soldier going to war, as distinguished from a Bum: The same soldier looking The fellows who stay a safe distance behind the firing : Sakae < He: I think that announcer is in the Navy. There's an impediment in his speech. No Guarantee LERK: Now here’s a book that has been suppressed in Chicago. Fraprer: How dull! Haven't you got something that’s been sup- pressed in Boston? for a job after the war is over. Asia Kagowan. Tragedy H E groaned and turned pale as he picked up the ticker tape, “Ruined?” asked a friend solicitously. “Yes,” he sobbed. “T’'ve just remembered that I was to get some ribbon for my wife this noon, “TAD, gimme a dime.” D “Son, don’t you think you're getting too big to be forever begging for dimes?” “IT guess you're right, Dad. Gimme a dollar, willya?” My name’s good for the limit in this joint.” “Not me—so’s mine.” “Come on in. comicbooks.com