Life, 1915-12-09 · page 14 of 48
Life — December 9, 1915 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page contains three satirical pieces about American standing during World War I (the text references post-war respect and wartime alliances). **"Cheer Up, the Worst is Still to Come"** mocks European contempt for Americans, noting that England, France, Russia, and Germany all despise the U.S., but predicts America will gain respect and money after the war. **"They Put Him Back!"** jokes about an Illinois postmaster fired for harboring a culprit, then reinstated by presidential order—satirizing political patronage and presidential overreach. **"It Works Fairly Well"** critiques America's supposed neutrality while actually aiding the Allies, arguing this arrangement allows Americans supporting different sides to help their preferred nations while Washington claims neutrality. The illustration titled **"The True Pacifist"** (right) appears to depict a skeletal or death-like figure, likely satirizing pacifism during wartime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1142 “LIFE: Cheer Up, the Worst is Still to Come HE authorities agree that Americans are now universally despised in Europe. The Eng- lish think little of us; the French, nothing; the Russians, ditto, and we are “pigs” to the Ger- mans. What little consolation is possible for us we should seek in the reflection that about half the English think even worse of the other half of the English than they do of us; ditto the French; ditto the Russians, and ditto (presently) the Germans. After the war we shall have everybody's money and be universally respected. That will be our time of peril. While we are so much despised we are comparatively safe. They Put Him Back! r was in the papers that an Illinois assistant postmaster had lost his job for harboring, and disclosing through the post-office window, the opinion that Mr. Wilson should have waited longer before arranging to be remarried. ‘se majesté! Good lord! And next it was in the papers that a rush-order from Washington, marked “ Must,” had ordered the culprit to be reinstated. Of course! But, oh my! What risks a Presi- dent runs from over-zeal and under-sense in his supporters! It Works Fairly Well If the United States desires to aid Great Britain and her allies, the honorable and manly course would be to join them openly in the war. Springfield Republican, UT isn’t there a sort of equity in the present working arrangement, under which the Amer- ican friends of the Allies help the Allies all they can, and the American friends of the Teutons help the Teutons all they can, while Washington remains neutral ? The United States is a corporation, and has no feclings. It is the people who have feelings. About nine-tenths of them feel for the Allies, and the other tenth for the Germans, and all the tenths express their feelings as emphatically as the law allows. USBAND: A man is coming to see me on urgent business. Can I have him come into my den? Wire: And interrupt my dressmaker? Never! THR TRUF PACIFIST comicbooks.com