Life, 1915-12-16 · page 11 of 44
Life — December 16, 1915 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **anti-German propaganda** from World War I. The top illustration ("Hints to Hostesses") satirizes the expense of entertaining during wartime. The "Order of Merit for Hyphenated Americans" is savage political satire mocking German-Americans. It sarcastically "rewards" acts of sabotage and treason—blowing up factories, destroying American vessels, and publishing anti-American propaganda—with medals featuring Bryan and the Kaiser. The cartoon titled "Yours in Haste" (bottom) depicts a woman urgently demanding a man's attention, likely referencing wartime anxiety or romantic/social pressure. **Context**: This reflects American hostility toward German-Americans during WWI, when they faced suspicion of disloyalty. The term "hyphenated Americans" referred derisively to immigrants retaining ethnic identity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HINTS TO’ HOSTESSES THE COST OF ENTERTAINING MAY BE MINIMIZED BY EXACTING A RAKE-OFF ON THE TIPS OFFICE BOY: That new passion poetess is without, sir, Eprtor: Is she worth a private interview? Orricr Boy: Take it from me and have her send in her stuff by mail. “YOURS IN HASTE” Order of Merit For HypHenatep AMERICANS 'HE following scale of rewards will go into effect from this date: If you are a German-American citizen and publish an incendiary article in any paper, or make a speech against American institutions, you will be given a silver medal with a head of Bryan engraved on one side and the Kaiser on the other. For blowing up or setting fire to an ordinary $500,000 factory you will receive an interesting and facetious edi- torial comment in all American papers, with a complimen- tary letter from the Secretary of , For setting fire to an American vessel, where no lives are lost, honorable mention. Where lives are lost, a dance given in your honor in the basement of the Capitol. For completely destroying all the steel and powder works in any one State, blowing up a minimum of fifty American citizens, establishing a wireless with Berlin, pub- lishing a German paper and fathering a propaganda di- rected against all American life and property, you will be given a grand public reception and the Cross of the Legion of American Honor, besides being pensioned for life. comicbooks.com