Life, 1914-11-05 · page 32 of 48
Life — November 5, 1914 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This WWI-era satirical page targets German leadership and wartime absurdities: **Top cartoon**: Gen. von Kluck's "extended right wing" is a double-entendre—referring both to his famous WWI military maneuver and a rooster's anatomy, mocking German military pretensions. **"Case for Experimental Treatment"**: Darkly satirizes the German General Staff's alleged deception of the Kaiser into war, sarcastically suggesting hanging as appropriate punishment. **Boston cartoon**: A suitor formally requests a father's blessing for his daughter's hand—a stuffy convention that becomes ridiculous given the man's character, satirizing outdated formality amid modern chaos. **Cable Message**: Requests saving German circus performers, mocking German militarism's impact even on entertainers. **"Preparatory School"**: Jokes that elite schools prepare boys for automotive recklessness and incompetence rather than actual education—broader American social satire. The page overall ridicules German military leadership, wartime hysteria, and American social pretension during the First World War.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WAR NOTE “GEN, VON KLUCK EXTENDED HIS RIGHT ANY a nation thinks its honor is at stake when it is merely suf- fering from an acute attack of military - indigestion. His Wife: Wet, DEAR, WE MUST BE GOING a A Case for Experimental Treatment Ifthe German General Staff lied to their Emperor to force him into war, what expiation can be ade- quate to their crime? Springfield Republican, O one can answer that, but why not try hanging? To Contributors 'S a short manuscript that has no returning. Re a IN BOSTON “SIR, YOUR DAUGHTER HAS PROMISED TO BECOME MY WIFE, AND FEELING THAT WE COULD NOT BE HAPPY WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT, I HAVE DEEMED IT MY DUTY TO INFORM YOU OF OUR INTENTION.” . Cable Message M sending my boy to preparatory school. I. M. WILLIAM, “What do they prepare him for?” © Berlin, Germany. “Unless I’m mistaken, for running a Sapphi: wy, ANANIAS, WHAT'S Please save us two Germans. fast auto, gambling and other forms THAT CosTUME? Rincttnc Bros. Circus. of general incompetence.” “WAK CORRESPONDENT,” comicbooks.com