Life, 1916-02-17 · page 19 of 52
Life — February 17, 1916 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American political influence and German militarism circa World War I era. **"Whose Voice Is the Sun?"** questions whether the newspaper *The Sun* speaks independently or echoes powerful figures like Colonel George Harvey and Colonel House (Woodrow Wilson's advisor). The cartoon suggests the press may be a puppet of political elites rather than an independent voice. **"A German Dream in Architecture"** (bottom) depicts the U.S. Capitol progressively transforming into a German military helmet—a visual warning about German imperial ambitions. Combined with the dialogue mocking German claims of no war atrocities, this warns Americans that German militarism threatens American democracy itself. The top illustration labeled "Bulwarks of the Nation" shows well-dressed social elites, suggesting the irony that these figures claim to defend the nation while potentially corrupting its institutions through hidden influence. The satire warns: beware both foreign militarism *and* domestic corruption of the press by political insiders.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Whose Voice Is the Sun? HOSE Sun? Is it Reick? just the Sun? One reads in it just now various pieces about “Magna Domus.” They seemed to begin about the time Colonel George Harvey got back from Eng- land. Is there any connection between voice, nowadays, is the Is it Mitchell? Is it an If f eta BULWARKS OF THE NATION the Sun's disposition to punch up Col- onel House and Colonel Harvey's re- turn? Of course, House being in sight, the Sun may tease him without special motive and without being out of char- acter, The Sun that teased Rose Eliza- beth Cleveland may say of this House teasing, “I was always so.” And yet, when the Sun speaks one wonders, often, “ Whose voice is that?” Kultur Cc AWFORD: they haven't The Germans say committed — any atrocities. Ceansuaw: Naturally. Germans don't seem to know what atrocity is, THE army of the unemployed never lacks recruits. A GERMAN DREAM IN ARCHITECTURE