Life, 1916-04-06 · page 64 of 80
Life — April 6, 1916 — page 64: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes advertisements with satirical commentary. The main cartoon, "A Wild Scheme," ridicules protectionist trade policy. A character proposes tariffs to protect American "original thought" from cheap European imports (German philosophy, Egyptian jokes, English fiction). Authorities reject the idea as uncompetitive. The satirist's joke: the real argument against the plan—that protecting domestic thought would put American authors and intellectuals out of work—went unnoticed by dull officials. The satire mocks both protectionism and the intellectual class. "The Boot on the Other Foot" comments on World War I: Germany, initially a threat to mankind, now faces existential danger itself—a reversal of fortunes. The advertisements (Thermos bottles, Beech-Nut peanut butter, White Rose soap) are standard period marketing, using testimonials and nutritional claims typical of early 20th-century advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE™ has not longed for the meansof serving water at the din- ing room table so that it is cold, and that it remains so during the entire meal, without ice in the water served? The Thermos Carafe in- suresthis wonderful result. HERMD the bottle serves you right—food or drink—hot or cold—when, where, and as you like. HO has not in the long hours of the night, longed for an ice cold drink of pure water, or a hot beverag: has gone without, di the long journey to the ice box or the kitchen stove? Fill and put a Thermos jug at the sid bed. It await: pleasure for the mere extension of your hand, Any store, anywhere American Thermos Bottle Co. Norwich, Conn, San Francisco Toronto New York BEECH-NUT PEANUT BUTTER Sandwich of Beech-Nut Peanut Butter | Glass of Full Cream Milk FATHERS AND MOTHERS: | Each Will Feed Your Child the Same Amount of Strength, Heat and Energy | BEECH-NUT PACKING COMPANY CANAJOHARIE, NEW YORK Makers of Famous Beech-Nut Bacon ; Beech-Nut Tomato Catsup; Beech-Nut Chili Sauce; Beech-Nut Oscar’s Sauce; Beech-Nut Mustard. Also Beech-Nut Jams, Jellies and Marmalades and the Beech-Nut Confections—Chewing Gum and Mints. ASK YOUR DEALER A Wild Scheme HE time came when a bright mind, who had the interests of his coun- try thoroughly at heart, suggested that a protective duty should be placed upon original thought. “Unless original thought in America is fostered,” he asserted with some pride, “it will never get started.” But the authorities remained uncon- vinced. “Such original thought as we might be able to foster,” they still maintained, “no matter how highly protected, would never be able to compete with the pauper, original thought of Europe; we import philosophical sys- tems from Germany for practically nothing; Egypt has, for a long time, been dumping jokes upon our market for the mere asking; even the madc-in- England fiction upon which, as a na- tion, we subsist, can be had for the The man, losing all hope, then de- parted, convinced that it was all quite useless, But on his way home he ob- served, slyly: “Just like those authorities! They didn’t even think of the best argument of all against my plan; and that is, that if we should start original thought, it would throw so many thousands of our hard-working authors, psychologists and other literati out of employment. Which convinces me that the authori- ties are fully as dull as they ought to be, in order to maintain their exalted Positions.” ' 1 F ! r i s — 2 I The Boot on the Other Foot ‘ t HEN Germany began this war she ‘é was a threat and a black peril to " mankind. h How about it now? Who is most in b danger—mankiad or Germany? 5 What began as a German challenge F for world-power seems gradually to p have come to be a German struggle for ii existence. 4 o p n w st w fr e nc co m bu fe af su su fa WHITE ROSE ia in, GLYCERINE SOAP in + For over three generations No. 4711 White Rose He Glycerine Soap has been used—and endorsed—by dis tie criminating women the world over, : Its daily, regular use insures a clear, soft am ne velvety-smooth skin Li So pure and transparent, it is a delight to use No. 47il 0c v Rose Glycerine Soap. Its delicate perfume av he hness of its creamy lather are a lasting pleasure—a reve tion in how satisfying a good soap ean be. of You can get it at your favorite department store or d Send a2 cent stamp for a sample cake of No. GU W doi Glycerine Soap: 07 10 ¢ amp pie cake of) : of No. G11 Bath Salts and a sample bottle to <a tio MULHENS & KROPFF I Dept. L. 25 West 45th St, New York City ik s he comicbooks.com