Life, 1914-12-17 · page 9 of 40
Life — December 17, 1914 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon ("Self-Consciousness of the Beginner"):** This appears to be a satirical illustration of inexperienced soldiers or recruits in military quarters, depicted in an exaggerated, comedic style. The crowded, chaotic scene suggests the confusion and awkwardness of novice military personnel. **Article "Dr. Shaw Prescribes":** Discusses labor unionization in the military, debating whether British soldiers should have trade union representation and organized strike capacity. The argument compares British Army organization unfavorably to the German Army's hypothetical structure. **"Rare-book Scamps Bagged":** Reports on fraud convictions—con artists selling fake "rare books" to wealthy victims. Several perpetrators faced imprisonment or asylum commitment. **Bottom Illustration ("The Up-to-Date Daughter"):** Depicts a domestic scene with apparent social commentary about modern women and work.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1109 Dr. Shaw Prescribes Trade unionism must be instituted in’ the army, so that there shall be accredited secretaries in the field to act as a competent medium of com- munication between the men on service and the political representa- tives of their class at the war office. —Bernard Shaw. GPs Bernard, grand! But if you have an outfit of walking dele- gates for the British Army, your ideal must include the possibility of strikes, and since the time to strike is when business is most brisk, the soldier strikes would be called just before important battles. At present soldier strikes are known as mutinies, and are not so rare that systematic provision for increasing and conducting them seems necessary. Be- sides, if the British Army were sup- plied with walking delegates and the German Army had none, the compe- tition would be so unequal that very soon all British labor troubles would be settled by efficient gentlemen from Berlin. Think what you will of the German Army, Bernard. When you regard it as an organization of strike-breakers, it cannot but look formidable. And that is what it would be if the British Army were unionized. SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE BEGINNER s um iy Nk ica da ») ieee 4 ’ .2 Rare-book Scamps Bagged O*’ November 2d two more of those nasty scamps who sell alleged “rare books” for very large sums to inexperienced or defective rich people were found guilty in a Federal Court of the legal equivalent to swindling. That was a good job, These rascals beat the very Ger- mans in their larcenous practices in behalf of culture. Rich old ladies of a weakened discretion were their fa- vorite victims. Besides the two, J. J. Farmer and “Colonel” Hartley, now convicted, another, a son of Farmer, is in jail in Massachusetts, another is credited to a lunatic asylum, another has pleaded guilty, another has been arrested, and another has got off. THE UP-TO-DATE DAUGHTER It may be a year or two before the rare-book swindle “bo YOU MIND IF 1 CLOSE THE pooR, MOTHER? 1 MATE TO becomes good again. SEE YOU WORK comicbooks.com