Life, 1916-04-13 · page 7 of 46
Life — April 13, 1916 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains political satire about American-German relations, likely from the early 20th century. The cartoon depicts a formal government meeting where one figure announces receiving "a message from our government, Senator. Our Emperor is much annoyed by her activities of American agents in Congress." The satire appears to mock American politicians who were perceived as being unduly deferential to German interests or influence. The "Declaration of Subservience" text above reinforces this theme of political subordination. The poem "An Easter Hat" by Clinton Scollard is unrelated social commentary. The cartoon's humor relies on depicting American congressmen as literally taking orders from a German emperor—a sharp jab at suspected German diplomatic influence in U.S. politics during a tense period of international relations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
INL. & NORe An Easter Hat N‘ecet but beauty and bloom for it; Ribbon and wing and plume for it; Silk and satin and lace for it; Glow and glamor and grace for it; Nothing that’s gloomy or gray for it! But, oh, but, oh, who will pay for it? Clinton Scollard. Declaration of Subservience HEN, in the course of human events, it becomes ex- pedient for one nation to assume the political bonds that subordinate it to another and to recant, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, an indecent disregard of the opinions of mankind requires that they should conceal the causes which impel them to the humiliation. “YT HAFF A MESSAGE FROM OUR GOVERNMENT, SENATOR. OUR EMPEROR ISS MUCH ANNOYED BY DER ACTIFITIES OF AMERICAN AGENTS IN CONGRESS” comicbooks.com