Life, 1914-09-03 · page 20 of 48
Life — September 3, 1914 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes World War I through multiple pieces. The main essay "Are Wars Making Progress?" uses sardonic logic to argue that while civilization supposedly advances, wars remain morally unchanged—except in two respects: more people can be killed efficiently, and facts are concealed from the public so effectively that "historians" can fabricate narratives with impunity. The satire targets both military brutality and propaganda suppression. "A Mixed Bag" cartoon depicts a golf instructor berating a student, using golf terminology as metaphor for war's incompetence—suggesting military leadership bundles every strategic element. The "Sayings of a Congressman" mockingly presents a politician's empty rhetoric, while the "Exclusive" section satirizes religious hypocrisy, specifically evangelical support for war despite Christianity's peaceful teachings. The Turkey reference likely alludes to Ottoman entry into WWI (1914) and debates about Christian versus non-Christian nations' involvement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
388 _ Are Wars Making Progress? EVerY war should not object to being examined, if not generally, at least by a favored few of us, in order that we may discover whether or not it has made any progress over the last war. Most of us, being ambitious, are naturally anxious that war should im- prove, Owing chiefly to Christianity and other minor influences, we are told that civilization is advancing. Why should not wars, therefore, keep pace with this advance? It is as yet too early to discover just how far, in every respect, the present European war has improved upon its predecessors. It seems to be about the same in the following respects: Breaking of neutrality laws. Cruelty to non-combatants. Lying reports of victories, There are, however, up to date, two respects in which this war may pride itself on its distinct progress over the past. First, more human beings can be killed in a given time than evor be- fore; and, second, the actual facts are so carefully concealed from the gen- eral public that they will probably never be known, This enables our his- torians to make a living. It is coming to be recognized indeed as a moral principle that no war ought to be made too public, In the course of time, if all the things that wars do became generally known, it might cre- ate such a prejudice against them in the minds of so many common people as seriously to affect their future. A MIXED BAG T THE DEVIL AM I DOING WRONG, Cappy? CE 1S ROTTEN, YER PRESS ALI. THE TIME, AN’ YER PULLIN’ YER BRASSY, YER TOO LOW WI’ YER IRON, AN’ YER TOPPIN’ WI YER MASHIE, YER FALLIN’ BACK AN’ DRAWIN’ IN, YER DON’T KEEP YER EYE ON THE BALL, AN’ YER CAN'T PUTT FER TOFFEE.” Sayings of a Congressman Exclusive “T WOULD not have spoken at all We hasn’t Turkey mixed herself this evening if I had not——” up in this European war?” “T have only to conclude by remark- “Why, didn't you know that Turkey ing that——” is not a Christian nation?” “Just one thing more, I—” “Tlie people of this great country now stand——” BEWARE of the ranting evangelist. “At some future time I shall——” The man who lives close to God “ SAFETY FIRST” “ Meanwhile let us——” doesn’t need to be noisy.