Life, 1914-10-15 · page 21 of 48
Life — October 15, 1914 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon satirizes bureaucratic absurdity in a courtroom or government proceeding. A "Justice" figure presides while officials and citizens engage in what appears to chaotic legal debate, with various papers and red tape literally tangling the scene—a visual pun on bureaucratic obstruction. Below, "Turkey in America as It Might Be" presents a speculative satire imagining Islamic missionaries converting Americans and establishing religious institutions with government protections equal to Christian clergy. The piece mocks fears of religious pluralism and equal treatment, presenting this hypothetical scenario as something that would make "Mohammedans very, very angry" when America treats all religions alike. "Blessings of War" offers dark humor listing war's supposed benefits: eliminating derby hats, removing war correspondents, ending political speeches (crediting Woodrow Wilson), and preventing wealthy American women from traveling to Europe—satirizing how people rationalize war's consequences. The illustration accompanies a bestselling novel excerpt describing a domestic vision.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*E 1 RES ii \ S-Wie is: eet Se Men en RED Turkey in America as It Might Be ARLY in the Jast century a number of Mohammedan missionaries settled in this country, and although several of our clergy made protests to the government, it was thought best in a free country not to molest them. Their number, however, gradually increased, and in the course of time they made a number of converts. They also erected a number of Mohammedan colleges and in- stitutions, and endeavored in every way to convert our people to their own religion. Our clergy continued to express their indignation, especially as these strangers had privileges not even granted to our own clergy. It was therefore decided to treat everybody alike. This made the Mohammedans very, very angry and. . Blessings of War TH possibility that derby hats will no longer be worn. The total elimination in future of all war corre spondents, The curtailment of all political speeches—following the examples set by Woodrow Wilson. No more senseless European travel by idle American women. TAPE ILLUSTRATION FOR A BEST-SELLER “When our hero again recovered consciousness he himself at his own fireside, surrounded by his jar houschold chattels, and over him stooped, as in a heavenly vision, all that was near and dear to him” comicbooks.com