Life, 1910-06-16 · page 32 of 44
Life — June 16, 1910 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a German-dialect satire mocking Kaiser Wilhelm II's inflated sense of power relative to Theodore Roosevelt. The cartoon presents the Kaiser boasting that he and God once controlled the world—until "Teddy" (Roosevelt) arrived to upstage them both. The poem's repeated refrain "Dot Teddy" catalogs Roosevelt's alleged meddling: teaching mathematics, offering unsolicited advice, influencing military strategy, and generally dominating world affairs. The Kaiser's grudging admission that Roosevelt now effectively "bosses" the world alongside himself and God is the satire's core joke. The dialect humor (German accent rendered phonetically: "vorldt," "vat," "nefier") was a common contemporary comedic device. This reflects early-1900s American satirical attitudes toward both German arrogance and Roosevelt's expansionist foreign policy and reputation for aggressive intervention in global affairs. The piece critiques Roosevelt's outsized influence on the world stage through mock-resentful portrayal of his superiority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
aa FEISR Teddy unt Me unt Gott (A Revision) Der Kaiser of dis Vaterlandt Unt Gott on high all dings commandi— Eggsept, of course, you understandt Dere’s Teddy It used to be dot me unt Gott Could run der vorldt as vell as not. But now of help ve get a lot From Teddy Who told, us two unt two makes four Unt nefier cither less or more Unt all about our ancient lore? : Vy, Teddy Who s to me, “I like you, Bill *? Who helped me not to keep right still Unt talk of animals to kill? Dot Teddy Who told me vat mein army needs Unt how vords doesn't count mit deeds? Who valks unt talks der vile he reads Dot Teddy Who told me dings I neffer knew? Who told me vat I ought to do Unt how to say “ Dee-lighded! " too Dot Teddy. Dare iss no bleak unt lonesome spot Vich ve don’t cheer—I tell you dot! Der vorldt iss bossed by me unt Got Unt Teddy. —Jefferson Toombs, in Harper's Wee He: It’s quite true that there are isi crobes in kisses. Sur: Oh, the sweet little da Illustrated Bits, She Wanted the Credit Freedom of the will is a which children can understand and Preciate. The little girl in this story was willing to have all her naughty in genuity ascribed to supernatural sources “It was Satan,” said a mother t of her children, “who put it into your head to pull EI hair.” “Perhaps it was,’’ replied the I irl, “but kicking her shins was my ov a.’"—Youth's Companion. Better Harr: Sam'l, thou old vil lain, I do believe thou be drunk Propicat. (contentedly): Well, if be’unt, I ha’ wayasted three boab eR is pabtished lay, simultaneously in the United States, Great Rritain, Cal Possession ear in'advance, Additional $1id a yeary to Canada, Siogie current c is from date of pub be returned unless accompanied by tamped and addressed enveiope. Lire reipowsibve for the loss or non-return of wuielicited contrioution® yall Newsdealers in Gr n. ‘The International News Company, Breams Bailding, Char ane, London, E. C.. algo at Saarbach's News Exchanges. 16 Jol Paris; 1, Via Firenze, Milan: Mayence, Germany. The text and ilinstrations in Lin are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights in Great Britain apy 18 Southampton Row, London, W. ( Droadwa Delaunay-Belleville Licensed under Selden Patent ecial bodies for any Chassis. epairs to body or motor Peerless Cars with our exclusive Coach work by special arrange- ment with the Peerless Motor Car Co. Mlustrations show a new design Brewster tedy on Delaunay-Belleville Chassis, open and closed. comicbooks.com