Life, 1916-03-16 · page 32 of 44
Life — March 16, 1916 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces from WWI-era Life magazine: **"No Fun!"** depicts an old man advising his son George against marrying Cora immediately. The father warns that marrying before a woman establishes financial stability is foolish—he's seen love destroyed when breadwinners fail. This reflects anxieties about women entering the workforce and economic uncertainty during wartime. **"A Good Place to Learn"** is a brief joke mocking progressive education: a mother reports her daughter attends a course in "household derangements" at the "Abnormal School"—satirizing newfangled domestic science education as chaotic and abnormal. **"Sanctum Talks"** features a conversation between "Life" (the magazine personified) and "Emperor William" (Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II). Life accuses him of causing WWI while claiming to represent Germany itself. Life argues this is actually a war of "German military autocracy against the German people," with Europe fighting to liberate Germans. This directly critiques German militarism and autocracy as the war's true cause—not national conflict but authoritarian oppression.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
No Fun! HE OLD MAN: George? Grorce: Well, I thought so, father, if you consented. She's getting urgent about it. Tue Op Man: Immediately? Gerorce: That’s further than I have got. I suppose mother would want to have a say about that. She might not he ready to spare me for awhile yet. Tue Oro Man: Perhaps not till after the fall campaign. Well, I tell you, George; Cora’s a nice girl, and a girl of good character, I think, and I believe she will always do right by you according to her ability. But she’s new as a wage-earner. I understand she’s just: got a downtown job. If I were you I'd hold off a bit and see how she gets on with her employment. I tell you it’s no fun to settle down and get married and have your breadwinner fail to make good. That chases love out of the window, my boy. Many’s the time I've seen it! Many’s the time. Marry her, “Goop-BY, HYPHEN"” A Good Place to Lea ‘A ND where is your daughter Min- nie this year, Mrs. Noovo?” asked the visitor. “Why,” said the old lady, “ Minnie wants to be a teacher in domestic science, and she’s taking a course in household derangements down at the Abnormal School.” Sanctum Talks “ OD morning, Lire.” “ Why, good morning, Emperor William! You do me great honor.” “This is not a question of honor, Lire, but simple justice to Germany. Why are you Americans displaying so much hostility to the Fatherland?” “You mean, Emperor, why are we all displaying so much hostility to you.” “Well, am I not the Fatherland?” “Not quite, sire. You think you are. This apparently trifling illusion on your part—if you will permit an old friend and critic to have his say—is costing the world—well, we can’t tell yet, sire— but it looks a monumental price to pay for such a mixing-up of terms.” “But, Lure, this is a war between German and Slav.” “Pardon, your majesty—another slight error on your part.” “What is it, then?” “It is a war of German military autocracy against the German people— with Europe in the end to liberate the German people—or—” “Or what, Lire?” “Or what is left of them, sire.” “1 HOPE YOU WERE FIGHTING IN A JUST CAUSE, MY LITTLE MAN.” “YES, FATHER, FIDO BOBTAIL SAID I LOOKED LIKE YOU.” comicbooks.com