Life, 1916-03-02 · page 12 of 44
Life — March 2, 1916 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical illustrations labeled as "Spring Fashions," mocking German and British figures during WWI. The cartoons feature: - **"The Cupid" (for a German Love gift-up)**: A cherub holding what appears to be military equipment - **"The Water Nymph"**: A water sprite labeled "for a Sec of Navy when reproing officer" - **"The Victory"**: An angel figure described as "a disarming little frock for an opponent of War" - **"Venus Make-up"**: A classical female head, "for all Suffrage oratrices" Below, the text debates Kipling's statement that Germany cannot survive post-war, with Owen Wister arguing Germany should be eliminated as a threat. The satire ridicules both German militarism and British political figures through absurdist "fashion" commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
abi oii as lore dep ee Cermen baszador The Vetory” @ disarming little frock for an opponent of War A Menus Make-up for all Doffrage oratrices SPRING FASHIONS Will Germany Survive? IPLING says that after the war there won't be any Germany. “Allah has decreed,” he says, “that she shall perish by her own act from the consequences of the law that she professes, and through her temperament. . + No Germany will remian. . . All that will re- ain will be a few peoples living on the eternal defensive in moral, social and political trenches.” “Perish by her own act from the consequences of the law that she professes” sounds very ominous. It is as much as to say, “doomed by the law of nature,” and theré is a good deal in that view. But Owen Wister protests and moves to amend. He deplores the sound of an English voice talking about obliterating Germany. In Germany he sees “a splendid nation turned to a criminal as Otello was turned by Iago.” His way would bé to wipe out Germany's Iago, “the Prussian plan,” which is “a hideous threat to all free governments, . . . while Germany becomes herself again and goes forward among the beneficent leaders of civilization.” The law of nature that is squeezing Germany is imper- sonal in its operations, and might pinch Mr. Kipling’s Eng- land if it developed liability to such correction. Possibly Mr. Kipling would accept Mr. Wister’s amendment. But the decision will not rest with either of these gifted gentle- men. It has gone to the Supreme Judge. Now Is the Accepted Time AR you prepared against mental invasion? In your commerce with others it is largely a ques- tion of give and take. If, however, you have accumulated mental possessions, some one some day will be looking with longing eyes in your direction You will wake up suddenly to find an army on your shores and the tramp of many foreign feet devastating your sacred places. Lay up, therefore, a goodly store of satire, wit, power of definition, self-control, tact, patience and courage. You will need them when the invader comes. LL'S well with the country. We are shipping enormous quantities of wheat abroad and getting huge prices from home consumers. icbooks.com