Life, 1916-01-20 · page 32 of 44
Life — January 20, 1916 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces from Life magazine during World War I: **Main Cartoon** ("Ex-quisite!"): A humorous story by Wallace Irwin mocking post-war American fashion design. A character visits "Madam Dodo" (a reference to Lewis Carroll's absurd bird), a dressmaker who claims to design styles inspired by inmates of state mental asylums. The satire ridicules absurdly impractical fashions—cornucopia skirts with roller skates and trains, bizarre hats—while suggesting American fashion, now independent from European styles due to the war, has become comically insane. The piece ends with surreal violence typical of Irwin's absurdist humor. **"Settle It by Debate"** (right column): A brief satirical commentary on World War I peace negotiations. It mocks the Entente and Central Powers for endlessly debating who won rather than making peace. The author sarcastically suggests Henry Ford and William Jennings Bryan could resolve the war through formal debate instead of continued fighting—poking fun at both American optimism and the war's apparent futility. Both pieces reflect 1910s American skepticism toward the war and contemporary culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VS a iy ih ua || i gH sie as enna eT NHNN MLO “ Ex-quisite!” chirped the Dodo. “Isn't it delightfully uncomfortable?” it’s crazier—much crazier. Do you think I've gained my reputation as a progres- sive dressmaker for nothing?” ‘m sorry if you think me unap- preciative,” Malice apologized. “ This idea is new—perfectly new.” “There's always something new un- der the moon,” agreed the dressmaker, now appeased. “Since the war broke out, you know, we are no longer de- pendent on European styles. I am now having my styles designed by inmates of the State Insane Asylum.” Malice was preparing to make a graceful departure when Madam Dodo asked cordially: “And don’t you want to slip on our new cornucopia walking skirt of red balbriggan, to be worn with roller skates and four trains? No? 1 have also some new hats——" She brought down from a shelf a creation resem- bling a sofa pillow with a pink plume exactly in the center. Before Malice could prevent it the anomalous thing was pinned to her curls. “One hundred and one dollars,’ chirped Madam Dodo. “But I haven't any money,” she pleaded pathetically. “What!” shricked the Dodo. And before she had time for further parley six gray hawks had descended upon her, ripped away the garments and precipitated her into the main street of Blunderland so hastily that she did not know whether she was walking on her feet or on her hands, as the future styles seem to demand. Wallace Irwin. Settle It by Debate Entente beaten, says Tizsa, but peace not near.—Headline. N the other hand, the Allies hold obstinately to the opinion that the Teutonic Combine was beaten for good and all at the battle of the Marne and when Churchill mobilized the British fleet. Nothing prolongs the war except the difficulty of inducing an agreement about who's beaten. Henry Ford will notice this, and it is in order that he should suggest that this final obstacle should be removed in an intellectual joust. If the parties to the war will select debating teams, it cannot be doubted that Henry will stand the ex- pense of a hall and that Bro. Bill Bryan will consent to act as referce, VERYBODY likes to be aston- ished: it is the nearest we come to our lost childhood. tur Paaynre arr chatvan laste later DhC lta le ley Aa A HISTORY OF THE WORLD knows right 4 is alm Thous in the say, of this But might boty a &er ro: The body a is simp do not match CHA comicbooks.com