Life, 1914-12-31 · page 27 of 41
Life — December 31, 1914 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"The Span" (top cartoon):** A satirical drawing of a bird with outstretched wings labeled "LIFE," accompanied by anti-war poetry. The verses mock German militarism and profiteering—"Wilhelm" refers to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and "Krupp and Co." references the German weapons manufacturer. References to "super-Zeppelin" and peace palaces being bombed reflect World War I concerns. The satire attacks both German aggression and those who profit from war. **"A Back Number":** Mocks the Federal Reserve Banks' promise of clean, fresh currency at a moment when money itself is becoming scarce. The irony: the government offers pristine bills when nobody has cash anymore—the poor lack funds entirely, while the wealthy delegate currency handling to servants. **"German Comedy":** A caricatured German military officer declares "The war was forced on me!"—satirizing German claims of defensive necessity during WWI, a common propaganda position then widely mocked by Allied media. All three pieces are anti-German wartime satire typical of American publications during World War I.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1207 As It Appears WHEN war comes in at the door, treaties fly out at the window. A little Wilhelm is a dangerous thing. In time of truce prepare for treachery. How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him that bringeth re- inforcements ! Monarchs who built peace palaces shoulda’t drop bombs. Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands for Krupp and Co. In order to pluck bright honor from the pale-faced moon these days, a super-Zeppelin has become necessary. Neta Marquis v- THE SPAN THE WAR WAS FORCED A Back Number “WITH the opening of the new Federal Reserve Banks,” says the Herald, “the man who likes new money will have an opportunity to gratify his desire to line his wallet with fresh, crisp notes.” It seems like the irony of fate now money is being used less and less, and, indeed, promises to go out entirely, that we should be offered the opportunity to have it fresh and pure. To look upon the face of an Abraham Lincoln, a Garfield or an Adams without the same feeling that a mother has over the face of her boy who has been rolling in the dirt, would have been a real pleasure, during all these years when we have been handling money. The government comes along and says, now that nobody has any, “Here’s your pure money, free from microbes and good enough for candy cornucopias.” We have always wanted new money. Once there was considerable of it used in this country, but who has it now? Not the poor people. As for the rich, they don’t need it. A man turns his small change over to his chauffeur. His secretary pays his bills. Money? Pure and good? Tut, tut! ROFESSOR: If I fail to give a correct answer to any problem in mathematics that any one present offers me, I agree to forfeit the sum of ten dollars! Voice 1x Aupience: Make the date of my wife's birth agree with her present age. GERMAN COMEDY PELLISON Hooves. comicbooks.com