Life — November 12, 1914 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of LIFE Magazine Page This page from *Life* magazine presents satirical commentary on World War I's anticipated outcomes. The header illustration shows two figures playfully tossing a heart, symbolizing optimistic romantic notions about war. The main text, attributed to Amor R. Wells, lists competing predictions about what "The War Will Do"—offering ironic, contradictory claims. Some predictions are absurdist (producing "a new Shakespeare"), while others mock political positions (strengthening republicanism in Europe, confirming Democrats in power). The satire suggests people held wildly unrealistic expectations about the war's consequences. The bottom cartoon, "Figures of Speech: It's Simply Impossible to Get Servants Nowadays," depicts a domestic scene where the absence of working-class servants (presumably due to war) has created household chaos. This satirizes how the war disrupted class hierarchies and servant availability—a pressing concern for wealthy readers.