Life, 1915-06-17 · page 20 of 52
Life — June 17, 1915 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1914-era Life magazine page satirizes German militarism and culture through mock "society notes." The text imagines post-war London adopting "German patterns"—replacing genteel aristocratic gatherings with grotesque brutality. Events like "slaughter parties," drowning spectacles of women and children, and exhibitions of military cruelty replace traditional soirées. Names like "von Blusterburg," "von Schwein" (pig), and "von Thug" caricature Germans as inherently barbaric. The small golfer cartoon and accompanying anecdotes appear unrelated filler content. The satire's point: Germans are culturally primitive warmongers whose values—celebrating violence, military domination, and cruelty—represent the opposite of civilized Western society. This reflects pre-WWI Anglo-American attitudes portraying Germany as a threat to European refinement. The exaggeration aims at ridicule through grotesque juxtaposition of formal social conventions with savagery.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Golfer: The True German Pattern The London “season” is killed for this year, the Thames will be shorn of the gayeties of Henley, and the haunts of the gilded aristocracy will be silent as the ruins of Baby- For next year we predict a son” more brilliant than ever, a son” after the true German .—8 Uhr Abendblatt. "TIS a pleasant outlook. Perhaps we can forecast some of the society notes under this benign régime: Herr von Blusterburg gave a large slaughter party on Thursday. Frau von Schwein entertained elabo- rately on Tuesday at her palatial man- sion, The Shambles. During the evening the guests were regaled with a number of particularly revolting atrocities which had been especially arranged for the occasion. The engagement is announced of Gretchen, the youngest daughter of General von Butscher, to Herman von Vandal. Both families have a very long and a very sanguinary lineage. Preparations for the annual féte of the Honorable Order of Teuton Blow- hards are already well under way. The principal feature of the program will OH, BY THE WAY. Pore! be the drowning of a large number of women and children. For this purpose a large tank will be provided and a special ship is already being built, At the proper moment the ship will be blown up, and searchlights will be thrown upon the drowning passengers in order that the spectators may miss none of the delights of watching their struggles and their suffering. Another feature will be a series of tableaux in honor of the great murderers of his- tory. An exhibition will be given by army officers showing the most ap- proved methods of cruelty and inso- lence which they practice on their soldiers. There will also be a number of contests, such as a_beer-swilling contest, a boasting contest, a swagger- ing contest, etc, The proceeds of the féte will be given to the National Gallery of Cultured Barbarity. Herr Ludwig von Thug is chairman of the committee. The Honk Sign UGHTER, who was that young nuisance honking in front of the house last night?” “It was Montmorency, father. teen honks means ‘I love you’.” Six- Passing cr was dusk in Noman’s Land. They saw each other coming. They stared, met, silently sat down and faced each other. “Your face is familiar,” said the first one, “ but somehow I cannot place you. Haven't you had something to do with the sea?” “Mighty little, I assure you. you?” “ Mighty little. thing in common, ures.” There was a silence. One of them took out his red bandana and began to weep. “It wasn’t my fault,” he blubbered. “T did the best I could. I made an ass of myself, but I couldn't help it. However, it’s all over now. What was the matter with you?” “T haven't yet discovered. All I know is that I wasn’t up to the job. I had to—” At this moment the guide came up, and, tapping them respectfully, said: “Josephus Daniels and Winston Churchill? This way to the Down and Out Inn, gentlemen.” And But we have some- We are both fail- MAKE A LONG STORY sHORT—" comicbooks.com