Life, 1905-04-06 · page 26 of 62
Life — April 6, 1905 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon uses a classroom scenario to mock contemporary world leaders as misbehaving children. The "students" represent major powers: Little Nicholas III (Russia), Willie Hohensollern (Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II), Eddie Seventh (Britain's King Edward VII), Abdul Hamid (Ottoman Empire), and the Jap Mikado (Japan). The humor comes from depicting imperial rivalries and aggression as schoolyard bullying. Japan "sticks pins" into Russia (referencing the Russo-Japanese War); Wilhelm II is portrayed as a blustering troublemaker; Abdul Hamid appears restless and secretive. The lesson on divine judgment with "a flaming sword" suggests these leaders deserve punishment for their militaristic behavior. This reflects early-20th-century American anxiety about European imperialism and rising international tensions before World War I.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SHicddaLiFr EGE cipestige tires eerie / LIFE’S SUNDAY-SCHOOL CLASS. Present: Little Nicholas I/1., Willie Hohensollern, Eddie Seventh, Abdul Hamid, Jap Mikado, IFE: The class will come to order, please. What is it, Nicholas ? Nicuotas: Jap Mikado is sticking pins into me. Oh! Oh! Oh! Lire: Shame on you, Jap! Why don't you take a boy of your own size? Jar Mikapo: I don’t care. He tried to get some of my things away from me. Witute H.: Let ‘em fight it out. Who cares? Come, teacher, what's the lesson for the day? I hope it’s something bloody. I woke up this morning with a ter- rible thirst. Eppie Sevextu: Come,cousin Willie, why can’t you be more polite? You are always. bluster- ing and bragging around. Lire: Well, I'm glad there's at t one little boy here who's halfway decent. I’m afraid this is the toughest class I’ve had y Wittre H.: Nonsense! die is as bad as the worst of us. I've seen you playing craps. I've seen you kissing the girls! I know you. Don't let him fool He dresses nice and neat and looks like a real Christian, but he never takes any- body his own size. Eppie: You think you're a you, teacher. little tin god on wheels, don’t you? ['Il—— Lire: Now, boys, quiet. Ab- dul, what's the matter with vou? What makes you so restless? Wittie H.: I know. He doesn’t like the crowd. All he wants to do is to get behind the barn and smoke cigarettes. Niciotas: You stop! Jav Mikapo: I won't! Lire: Order in the class! Our text to-day, children, is from Revelation : ‘And the angel of the Lord came with a flaming sword.” Can any one interpret this pas ? Witte H.: Sure. He came comicbooks.com