Life, 1915-06-24 · page 17 of 45
Life — June 24, 1915 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** A woman examines a disassembled automobile with a male motorist. The joke mocks the poor engineering or design of early cars—the motorist suggests whoever manufactured it included unnecessary components. This reflects early 1910s frustration with unreliable automobile technology. **Middle Section:** This is satirical commentary on World War I neutrality debates. A couple discusses war philosophically; the man advocates for war but only for others ("somebody else's war"), a hypocritical position Life mocks. The woman cuts through this—he can't avoid life's obligations by outsourcing them. **"What Odds, Professor Hart?"** Life challenges Professor Albert Bushnell Hart's published prediction that WWI wouldn't overthrow European thrones (particularly the Balkans). The magazine sarcastically challenges him to bet odds that Kaiser Wilhelm II will remain in power post-war, implying the professor's academic caution underestimates the coming political upheaval. This appeared when Wilhelm's downfall was becoming imaginable to American observers. **Right Panel:** The "Movie Man" segment uses film production shorthand to request more dramatic action—likely social commentary on entertainment's role during wartime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHAT'S THE MATTER, MADAM? CAN'T YOU GET IT TOGETHER AGAIN?” Fair Motorist: on, yes. PUT IN A LOT OF THINGS IT DIDN'T REALLY NEED.” hear you say anything about the de- cadence of the home, because if you were referring to our home, then——” The man with the luminous orbs smiled. “No, darling,” he replied, “not our home. Somebody else’s home.” “ And it’s somebody else’s war you're talking about, isn’t it?” “It is, indeed. Me for war, but somebody else's war. That's the idea, Have a cigar, sir? If you'll step into the smoker with me I'll explain it over again in the light of the new idea my wife has given me.” She sank down beside him. “No, you won't,” she said, placidly. “Somebody else has a war on their hands. You have me. That's enough for you. Just let it go at that.” What Odds, Professor Hart? It is idle to suppose that the war may result in the overthrow of European thrones except perhaps in the Balkans.—Prof. Albert Bushnell Hart, in the Outlook, BOUT how idle, learned friend? Take, for example, the throne of Wilhelm II, Would it be incon- sistent with academic dignity for you to express your sense of the security of Wilhelm’s imperial seat in the form of betting odds? We don’t want your money, but only your feeling. Is it 50 to I, or 10 to I, or § to 1 that Wilhelm will still continue to sit tight on the Imperial Hohenzollern perch after the war is over? To our un- learned vision, Professor, it looks like a good bet that Wilhelm will be fired. The Movie Man: ACTION, I HAVE IT PUT TOGETHER ALL RIGHT, BUT WHOEVER MADE THE CAR A LITTLE MORE PLEASE comicbooks.com