Life, 1916-03-23 · page 11 of 52
Life — March 23, 1916 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Top Illustration:** A satirical sketch titled "Berlin 1950" with the caption: "If all the Germans except the royal family are killed in the war." The drawing shows a post-WWI Berlin street scene with civilians engaged in everyday activities—playing hockey, walking, shopping. The satire mocks anxieties about Germany's future after World War I, suggesting that even with massive casualties, ordinary life would continue. **"Elysian Fields for Husbands" Article:** This is a humorous prospectus for a fictional facility offering leisure and training for husbands. It satirizes the domestic power dynamics of the era, joking about wives' control over husbands' time and proposing a space where men could escape household duties, practice "discharging" wild cooks, and learn marital skills—poking fun at both men's domestic incompetence and women's management of home life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
al wor BERLIN 1950 IF ALL THE GERMANS EXCEPT THE ROYAL FAMILY ARE KILLED IN THE WAR Elysian Fields for Husbands Prospectus TTRACTIVELY situated within easy distance of the City Hall, these pleasant fields invite the careful consideration of every American hus- band. No women are present anywhere. There will, therefore, be no afternoon concerts, no bridge-playing, no hospi- tal fairs, no suffrage meetings, no new babies to inspect and praise. Every husband will be king. Confidences are respected. Tired husbands can spend their time exchanging their experi- ences, No messages from wives are permitted to break through the lines. Once within our enclosures you are safe from these anncyances, Select poker parties are continuous, with no interruption. In addition to our rest and recreation department, we also have a practice department, where husbands may acquire training for the future, when they are obliged to go back to their duties. A number of fierce cooks are kept on hand, and practice in discharging them is arranged for at certain hours. After you have discharged success- fully several of these wild creatures, you can go home and feel that this problem has been solved. We have also burglar-facing two nights a week. One of our most successful classes is the Last Straw Class. In these studies, the husband is taught just when to put up the fight of his life. Suburban husbands a specialty. If you are going to be married, take a few lessons in advance. It will pay you to do so. We show you how to begin right, so that you can retain a measure of independence for years. Clubs of five or more will receive reduction. | | J “WELL, ULL ADMIT HE CAN RUN FASTER THAN I, BUT I'VE GOT HIM PUFFING LIKE THE DICKENS!” comicbooks.com