Life, 1914-05-14 · page 16 of 44
Life — May 14, 1914 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple cartoons satirizing early 20th-century American movements and social trends. The top cartoon mocks a military invasion plan, with a character debating which American city to "civilize" first—New York, Chicago, San Francisco, or Washington. The satire targets political incompetence and absurd imperial ambitions, suggesting Congress is so dysfunctional it barely merits conquering. The middle section ridicules the "back-to-the-land" and "back-to-the-school" movements—contemporary trends advocating rural living and experiential over formal education. Life sarcastically argues that keeping people ignorant makes them "blissful." The bottom cartoon shows a small boxer defeating larger opponents, captioned "featherweight champion"—likely referencing a real boxing upset that surprised observers. The final cartoon depicts a hippopotamus in a restaurant requesting diet pills to increase appetite, with a monk warning her the establishment isn't a "wholesale provision warehouse." This jokes about excessive consumption and gluttony.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
dee and tweedledum? Dear me, any- one would think I was a friend of yours.” “Why not take all three you've men- tioned, simultaneously?” “That is my present plan.” “When do you start?” “As soon as I get a couple of colonels.” “Shall I notify everybody that you are coming in a year or so?” “Yes, tell ‘em I hate to civilize a new country, but if I don’t do something you'll all be drinking Mellin’s food soon instead of grape juice.” Modern HE back-to-the-land movement hav- ing received much impetus, a new movement, back-to-the-school, was immediately inaugurated. The idea of this movement was naturally that the only knowledge of real value is gained by experience; that school is not an experience, that the longer you can keep everybody in total ignorance the more blissful will be your condition. “SUFFERIN’ CATS! WHO WOULD A-THOUGHT THAT THAT LITTLE DUDE WAS FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WorLD!”” and shut the door suspiciously “ Ex- cuse me, Sefior,"I thought my army might be listening. You know it is always fatal to let one’s army know what one is going to do. But before 1 show you the plans, let me consult you about an appropriate motto. What do you think of ‘On to Canada.’ “Is it comprehensive enough?” I suggested. “Don’t you think it ought to be ‘On to the North Pole’?” “No,” he declared positively. “If we go any farther north than the Canadian border line I shall have to provide my army with fur coats and I never did believe in destroying good animals for a purpose like this.” “Very well. Your absurd senti- mentality does not appeal to me, but we will accept your motto, and now for the plans.” “T can’t make up my mind which to take first, New York, Chicago or San Francisco.” “What's the matter with Washing- ton?” seilietn Miss Hippo: 1F you'Lt EXCUSE ME, I'LL TAKE ONE OF THESE PILLS, THEY GIVE ME AN APPETITE “And stop Congress from debating Mr. Monk: MY DEAR LADY, I SHOULD STRONGLY ADVISE YOU NOT TO. about the difference between tweedle- THIS IS A RESTAURANT, NOT A WHOLESALE PROVISION WAREHOUSE