Life, 1916-01-27 · page 27 of 44
Life — January 27, 1916 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon satirizes German military propaganda. The illustration shows a seminude woman surrounded by soldiers, captioned "WITH BOTH WINGS OF THE BRITISH ARMY HELPLESS THE SITUATION WAS DESPERATE"—mocking overwrought German war narratives by presenting an absurdly sexualized scenario as their idea of military crisis. Below, "Haeckels Cannot Heckle Now" attacks German intellectual credibility post-WWI. Prof. Ernst Haeckel, a prominent German biologist-philosopher, is ridiculed for claiming the war disproved God's existence. Life argues that German academics have been so thoroughly discredited by their wartime propaganda that future generations won't take them seriously. The satirical "communication" tells German intellectuals to stop endorsing anything—their credibility is destroyed. The remaining sections memorialize American literary editor Henry Cuyler Bunner and include a patriotic quip ("greatest country in the world—the one which produced ME"), reflecting post-war American confidence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
==Eer = re ee — OfRoCusfing “WITH BOTH WINGS OF THE BRITISH ARMY HELPLESS THE SITUATION WAS DESPERATE” Haeckels Cannot Heckle Now Prof. Ernst Hacckel, the veteran German biologist and philosopher, expresses the opinion that the war has ended the “illusion” of the existence of a providential God, pre- destination and the immortality of the soul—Current item, THE great illusion that the war has ended is the notion that what Ger- man professors know and say is so. They are worse discredited than the forty-year-old forts. The generation now living and dying will never again take them seriously. They are all entitled to receive a com- munication in these words: “Gentlemen: Please, for a spell, do not endorse or expound me any more. It hurts my credit. Get a new line on me if you can, but please do not men- tion it just yet. “Your friend and well-wisher, “Trot.” An Unforgotten Friend F. A. of the Tribune has done us a service in reminding us of an old friend, Henry Cuyler Bunner. Since this allusion has been made to the memory of this distinguished liter- ary man and editor, a number have come forward to testify that they still hold him in grateful memory; that his delightful “Short Sixes” is still read, that his “ Love in Old Cloathes” is still cherished. Mr. Bunner was a bright particular star. He lived in Nutley, N. J,, since undistinguished except for the quarrels in its board of education He made it distinguished by his circus, a widely advertised social annual. He had, as an editor, a rare combination of ta: and judgment—the sure touch of the genuine literary artist. Patriotism TH greatest country in the world— the one which produced ME. comicbooks.com