Life, 1915-05-06 · page 12 of 56
Life — May 6, 1915 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Alexander the Great through an "Interview with World Celebrities" feature. The text shows Alexander defending his military conquests while dismissing modern warfare as sentiment-driven. The "EQUALITY" cartoon (right) depicts two figures of drastically different heights standing on a ballot box, satirizing the idea that democracy creates equality—the visual joke being that formal equality doesn't erase fundamental differences. Below is "A Spinster's Reverie," a sketch of a woman daydreaming by a tree, likely commenting on unmarried women's romantic fantasies. The "Guide to Americanisms" section defines contemporary American terms humorously (e.g., "Safe and Sane Fourth" as maximum independence with minimum accidents). The page combines political satire, social commentary on gender and democracy, and contemporary Americana humor typical of Life's satirical approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
788 Interviews with World Celebrities I FOUND Alexander the Great sitting on the edge of the battle ground of Arbela, having hunted for him over a large part of Macedonia. “I come out here every few days,” he said, “to look the ground over. It’s about the only occupation I have now—going over the old fights.” “Don’t you take any interest in modern battles?” I asked, thinking to draw him out. “Certainly the opinicn of the man who sighed for more worlds to conquer will be read with interest by millions.” Alexander smiled. “So that’s the story about me they have handed down,” he said. “ What I really said was that I wished I was sure that the nations I had conquered would stay conquered. Oh, well, the papers never get you right, anyway. I sup- pose if you make this correction you'll put it at the bottom of the page in agate type—as usual. What do you want with me, anyway?” “My dear sir—if you will allow me to be so free—with Cxsar, Hannibal and Napoleon, you were one of the four greatest military geniuses the world has ever seen. I should like to have your opinion, therefore, of the present war, What would you do if you were in the Kaiser's place? Would you have declared war?” Alexander thoughtfully stroked gently the mane of Bucephalus, who was standing quietly by his side. A SPINSTER'S REVERIE “EA: * “T'm off,” he said, preparing to mount. “And you wish to know if I had been in the present Kaiser's place if I would have declared war? I cannot tell you, because I cannot even imagine myself being in the Kaiser's place.” “Indeed, why not?” Alexander mounted and tightened up the reins. “ Because,” he replied, “modern conditions have altered warfare so much, In my time there was some sentiment— some adventure—to war. No, sir, I couldn’t be in the Kaiser’s place. I’m too tender-hearted and too fond of If I had to be anybody to-day, I'd be Albert of Guide to Americanisms SAFE AND SANE FOURTH: A maximum of real in- dependence with a minimum of accidents. Erevator: The uplift movement in our cities. Urrer Firtu Aven To-morrow's shopping district. Summer Resort: Just as good as purgatory. CoMMUTER: his own home. Grave Crossiy A man who calls almost every evening at (See Golden Gate.)