Life, 1915-10-14 · page 27 of 44
Life — October 14, 1915 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces mocking American social and political absurdities circa the 1910s-1920s. **"Mr. Kern Suggests"** ridicules Senator John Worth Kern's proposal to use uniformed fraternal organizations (Knights of Pythias, Knights of Columbus, etc.) for national defense training. The satire argues these social clubs—numbering roughly 16 million members—are fundamentally unsuited for modern warfare, conflating "lawn parties" with military preparedness. The cartoon depicts a lavish society wedding, suggesting the frivolous nature of such organizations. **"Two Women Talking"** sarcastically comments on divorce rationalization, where a woman claims she divorced "for the children's sake" despite admitting her home life wasn't truly intolerable. **"Progress"** ironically celebrates proposals to hygienically inspect restaurant waiters for germs while ignoring that the actual food served in New York restaurants contains no real nourishment whatsoever. **"No Limit"** is a brief joke about marital freedom—a husband claims he does "everything" with his car when his wife is away.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mr. Kern Suggests T occurs to Senator Kern, thrifty Hoosier soul and Democratic floor leader, that we can save money in our provision for national defense by using the uniformed bodies of various fra- ternal orders that are partly trained already. The Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Knights of Columbus and other organi- zations look good to Senator Kern when he sees them parade, and he is for training them some more and work- ing them in for national defense. Anthony J. Drexel-Biddle, of Phila- delphia, thinks his string of Bible classes would help out. They have a membership of 80,000 in thirty different States. Surely we are a more military people than we have suspected. Nearly six- teen millions of us. not counting the A MILITARY WEDDING RICE AND OLD SHOES ARE NO LONGER VOGUE Gideons, are credited in the World's Almanac with membership in fraternal organizations. Nevertheless, some informed person should take Senator Kern by the but- ton and explain to him how very much difference there is between modern war and a lawn party. Probably the fraternal organizations have lots of good soldier material in them, though that depends upon age and weight, but as organizations—stars above! And Senator Kern is Democratic leader in the Senate! Two Women Talking “[ SUPPOSE you really felt it nec- essary for you to secure a divorce?” “Well, perhaps not absolutely neces- sary, but our home——” “Exactly. You did it for the chil- dren's sake.” Progress the plans of the powers that be do not miscarry, the hygienic waiter IF in New York will soon be the order of the day and night. Even as the inno- cent bovine is minutely examined by the astute Board of Health in all lacteal belts, so the germ-carrying waiter will be faithfully scrutinized by the ubiquitous microscope, What is most needed, however, in New York is to scrutinize the food which we get in the restaurants. At present traces of real nourishment can be discovered in it. Until the possi- bility of this has been utterly removed nobody is really safe. No Limit “wat do you do with when your wife is away “Everything.” comicbooks.com