Life, 1916-02-24 · page 13 of 48
Life — February 24, 1916 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes military and political leadership, specifically what appears to be commentary on Austro-Hungarian authority during WWI era. The main cartoon depicts a high-ranking military officer (identifiable by elaborate uniform and medals) signing a document while seated, surrounded by subordinate officers. The caption indicates he's placing his "word of honor" in a waste basket rather than honoring it—a scathing critique of broken promises or dishonorable conduct by leadership. The accompanying essay "Our Country" attacks leaders who espouse democratic ideals while acting autocratically—"great enough to bear a Lincoln" yet betraying foundational principles. The satire suggests military brass prioritized expedience over integrity, reducing their pledges to mere "scraps of paper."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE OF ATTILA THE SECOND. CHAPTER VI WHEN INCONVENIENT TO KEEP HIS WORD OF HONOR HE PUTS IT IN THE WASTE-BASKET WITIL Our Country CONCEIVED in the pure air of human liberty, breathing the nox- ious atmosphere of plutocracy; dedi- cated to the proposition that all men are created equal, desecrated to the conviction that all men are not; vast as the broadest reaches of a great con- tinent, provincial as the limitations of a town board; ever striving with thy right hand to grasp the glowing torch of democracy, ever grovelling with thy left in the mire of caste—in the ooze of aristocracy. Great enough to bear a Lincoln, small enough to break a Lincoln's heart; stern in the examination of thy faults, blatant in the laudation of thy virtues; OTHER “ SCRAPS OF PAPER” rich in the command of the world’s wisdom, poor in thy respect for it; having all material things thy servants, serving thy servants and wasting thy birthright. Stumbling but advancing, groping but grasping; trusting men to serve you, finding men to betray you; asking men to slave for you, finding men to die for you. Great in your imperfection; mighty in your weakness; fearless in your ig- norance ; lovable in all. The joke, the boy, the yokel of the world. Thy mighty, blundering hulk will— though thou knowest it not—yet serve and save mankind, “Y WONDER IP THOSE GOLDFISH ARE EIGHTEEN KARAT”