Life, 1915-02-04 · page 31 of 44
Life — February 4, 1915 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of anti-German wartime satire, likely from 1917-1918. **Left cartoon**: A dog chases a rabbit up a tree. The joke plays on the phrase "climb a tree"—the rabbit explains it "had to," suggesting desperation forces even the impossible. **Main article "Sad Case of Recurrent Habits"**: Mocks Germany's claim of keeping peace for 44 years under the Kaiser, arguing this merely means 44 years since their *last* successful raid on neighbors. It frames German aggression as an incurable "hereditary, predatory mania" and likens the current war to forced medical treatment—hoping "her next cure shall be permanent." **"It's a Poor Rule"**: Criticizes President Wilson's neutrality enforcement regarding British ship seizures, sarcastically suggesting if future neutrality enforcement favors the Allies instead, Wilson won't object since he lacks "German" tendencies. This suggests Wilson should abandon strict neutrality favoring the Allies. Both pieces reflect American wartime propaganda against Germany.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Dog: wen, 1 DIDN'T KNOW A_ RABBIT COULD CLIMB A TREE! The Rabbit: tTH1s one HAD TO. ‘OW thyself by all means. But if not, don’t despair. It is some- thing that, if you neglect it, is sure to be done for you. THE STATE ROAD AS IT SEEMS WHEN YOU ARE JUST LEARNING Sad Case of Recurrent Habits GFEMANYS familiar boast of how the Kaiser by main strength kept the peace for forty-four years amounts only to this: that it was forty-four years ago last summer since the Ger- mans have made a successful raid on their neighbors’ territory. They have been assisted in the culti- vation of self-restraint by the fore- thought of the adjacent nations in getting together and providing means to stand them off. It is sad that after so long a spell of good conduct Ger- many should relapse, but bad habits are very obstinate, and only too often it happens that what seems a complete recovery is suddenly marred after many years by a calamitous downfall. Germany has almost universal sym- pathy in her present terrible fit of hereditary, predatory mania, and all her dear neighbors are in dead earnest in endeavoring to provide that her next cure shall be permanent. It's a Poor Rule UTRALITY enforced about ships improperly held up by the Eng- lish is a good forerunner of neutrality enforced about something else. And if the next enforcement should be more acceptable to the Allies, what of it? Mr. Wilson has no known in- firmity of mind which can be described as. German. An_ enforcement ac- ceptable to the Allies wouldn't shock him