Life, 1898-09-29 · page 8 of 20
Life — September 29, 1898 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Satire from Life Magazine This page presents two sketches critiquing French and German wartime conduct, likely from World War I era. **Left cartoon ("The Smart Pupil, and"):** A French official punishes a young boy for forging a letter, while lecturing about French honor and justice—yet the dialogue reveals France itself is fabricating false documents (a forged capitaine's letter is mentioned). The satire: France hypocritically demands moral standards while committing the same dishonesty it punishes. **Right cartoon ("The Old Professor"):** An elderly German professor teaches a Jewish student (Onogri) that he must commit suicide to preserve German honor. The satire mocks German militarism's absurd demands for "honor" through violence and scapegoating. Both cartoons ridicule warring nations' propaganda about morality while engaging in brutality and deception.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SMART PUPIL, AND Snola; Tam innocent, All [ want is justice. Everybody in France: The scoundrel! He asks for justice! For justice, tere! Kill him! Cut him up!! Massacre his relatives!!! French honor must be preserved !!!! Il. (Room tn War Department again, Present, the Mintster of War ana several clerks.) Minister (testily) : What is that whispering? What said you? 1st Clerk : Nothing, monsieur. Minister : Liar! (To 2d Clerk) What said the miserable? 2d Clerk: He said that he saw with his own eyes the Capi- taine Ongri forge the letter. Minister: Fool to say so. Kick him from the building to Germany! 1st Clerk; But, monsieur, others of us saw it; many have seen it. It is generally known. Minister ; Sacred purple! All are the fools. 1st Clerk; But here comes the Capitaine. Ask him. (Enter Ongrt.) Minister ; He says many saw you write the letter forged. Ongri : I deny it. Minister : On your honor? Ongré (recoiling) : On my French honor? Minister: Alas, yes! On your French honor. Ongri: Then I admit it. French honor must be preserved. Yes, I forged the letter. If you had asked me on the honor of a man with a wart on his nose—poof, I should have denied always; buton my French honor, ah, c'est different! It is to weep. Minister (with meaning): Sacred green! THE OLD PROFESSOR. Iv. (Another room in the Department, All the officers gathered together.) Minister of War: He admits the forgerie! All: He do? Minister » Parfaitement. Somebody : I have an idea, Minister; What is it that it is? . Somebody: Release the Jew Paypoos, who must of course be now innocent. All; Kick him! A bas lesjuifs! Conspuet Snola! Ohief of Stag’: Ihave a better idea. Minister : What it is that is it it is? Chief : It is to preserve the French honor! AU; Speak you! Chief: Ongri must commit suicide! All; Excellent idea! Vive le suicide! Long may he live! Ongri (grasping the hand of the Chief-of-Staff) : To you I owe my life! I will commit suicide! zcusez-moi a minute. ‘AU: Parfaitement! What is to be done? {Exit Ongri.) Ohief: Sacred crushed-strawberry! A dull thud is beard, Everybody in France: French honor is preserved! 4 David H. Dodge. ONESTY isa shield with two sides. The two parties to a business transaction sce it from different points of view. AZINESS is the deadliest of all diseases, for the disease itself prevents one from taking the remedy. comicbooks.com