Life, 1914-10-29 · page 10 of 44
Life — October 29, 1914 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon depicts two apes observing human conflict in the background. The illustration accompanies two pieces: "Quietus," a story about international disarmament agreements collapsing when gunmakers profit from resumed warfare, and "The Honor List," which sarcastically celebrates military figures for destructive acts (burning towns, destroying cathedrals, looting). The cartoon's title and pairing suggest the satire's point: humanity's "first family quarrel" represents civilization's failure at peace. The apes observing suggests humans are behaving like animals despite pretensions to civility. The juxtaposition mocks the hypocrisy of honoring military destruction while claiming to pursue international peace and disarmament—showing how economic interests and martial glory override humanitarian values.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE FIRST FAMILY QUARREL Quietus TH day having come when everybody had been whipped into exhaustion, a motion for universal disarmament was entertained and unanimously carried. It then became necessary to discover how this could be done permanently. At last it was suggested that an international law should be passed making it hereafter compulsory for all inventors of explosives and armament, and for all manu- facturers, to manufacture and present to their respective countries the products of their skill and labor, without any charge. This produced the desired result, for, when it was discovered that there was no further profit to the gun- maker, war stopped and peace reigned. This lasted, by the way, until somebody secretly broke the agreement and the next war broke out. The Honor List AISER WILHELM has decorated Genéral Von Bootschur with the badge of the Legion of the Bloody Escutcheon for conspicuous recklessness in burn- ing towns, Count ‘Von Strut has been made a Knight of the Red Suspender for his excellent record in shooting non- combatants, A Gold Bootjack has been bestowed upon Professor Von Fuhlhardi for his notable book on “The Resumption of Specious Argument”. General Von Swiller, of the Rathskeller Marines, who recently led a brave attack upon a defenseless community, has been put in command of the Imperial Insufferables. Captain Freschenbad, of the Royal Pillagers, has been promoted to the Looting Lancers in honor of his activity in destroying cathedrals and objets d'art. comicbooks.com