Life, 1914-11-26 · page 41 of 44
Life — November 26, 1914 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany** during World War I. The text describes a fictional speech where the Kaiser boasts of German military atrocities—destroying universities, cathedrals, and civilian populations in Belgium—while using absurd bureaucratic language ("ten-inch capsules," casually cashiering officers for having consciences). The satire's targets include: - **German militarism and war crimes**: The speech celebrates destruction of Belgian infrastructure and civilian massacres - **American newspaper editors**: A bounty is placed on their heads for reporting German defeats and mocking German authority - **The Kaiser's megalomania**: He announces a new map of Europe where France, Holland, and Belgium have disappeared The punchline mocks his cowardice: when a peace dove briefly frightens him (he thinks it might contain explosives), the Kaiser flees through a window like a terrified child. This reflects American attitudes circa 1914-1917, when U.S. media widely condemned German conduct in Belgium before America's entry into WWI.
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troops as the “nun-killer”, and ca- pable of hurling two tons of culture and other combustibles a distance of three miles. He regretted that the refusal of the University of Louvain to accept German mysticism and trans- cendental thought, even when offered in convenient ten-inch capsules, had made necessary the assault on that institute of learning. He = an- nounced, furthermore, that He had been obliged to cashier the command- ing officer of one of His Bavarian regiments for having been found on the battlefield with a conscience on his person. The occasion was rendered doubly significant by the display of the new map of Europe, prepared under the special supervision of His Majesty and now shown for the first time, The prominent citizens examined it with much care, and at last accounts were still hunting for France, Holland and Belgium. It was announced that a price of forty thousand marks had been set on the head of each one of the edi- tors of New York evening papers for . ner Roald Haves Kacctedge » Vaiber Sheela Lmpart to Ms Soo. Hetiea Eovvtadgs a Restand Sbesld Mare Writs for * Other Peoph PURITAN PUB. CO., 787 PERRY BLDG, PHILA., PA. EGY DE in C IAN TIES lor Cork ip their daily destructions of German troops in overwhelming numbers, for anticipating the victories of the Rus- sians and for persistent acts of lése- majesté in their methods of replying to Herman Ridder. His Majesty brought His speech to a close in these ringing words: “The war must go on. The universities and the cathedrals must be razed to the ground! My jolly, good-natured 21 Maiden Lane, New York. ELBERT HUBBARD says: “Present him with a HAVONE. Cigarette Case, and he will be what the Venus de Milo is not— a perfect gentleman.” It being now quite im- proper to offer acigarette from anold style, so-called “cigarette case,” wherein smokes are crushed to Every cigarette is a smoke when carried ina HAVONE. 4 u | NEW YORK America’s Latest and Most Refined, and New York’s Ceatermost Hotel Only, hotel in tire cit block. Vanderbilt. and “Madison” Aves., 43d and 44th Sts, ing Grand Central Terminal 1000 rooms, 9so with bath— Rates from $2.50 per day. Suites from 2 to ts rooms for permanent occupancy. Large and small ball, banguet an: dining salons and suites specially arranged for public or private functions. John McE, Bowman Vice-Pres, troops have orders to continue their work until Belgium has been rid of every woman, child, cripple and hos- tage. Show no quarter to—” But at this moment the Dove of Peace was seen to tremble insecurely on its supporting wire, and the Kaiser, fearing that some English spy had re- placed the dynamite in that messenger of good cheer, disappeared through the window, followed by the General Staff, and sought one of His accus- tomed isles of safety. ANY a bride sweeps up the aisle of a church who would faint at the sight of a broom.