Life, 1916-05-04 · page 21 of 52
Life — May 4, 1916 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a burglar confronting a family at their home, illustrating the header "Don't molest families whose watchword is preparedness"—a sardonic warning to criminals to avoid homes that are ready to defend themselves. The text sections below mock American complacency before World War I. "Wrong, Brother" sarcastically criticizes the notion that meditation and reflection are virtuous, pointing out that even President Wilson meditated after the *Lusitania* sinking (1915) rather than act decisively. It implies American leaders were too passive amid global conflict. "Don't" mocks the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* for publishing outdated information about Belgian military readiness before the war exposed their weakness—a critique of publishing encyclopedias during wartime. "Safety First and Last" is a brief joke about financial irresponsibility. The overall message: America needs action and preparedness, not passive contemplation, given the urgent threat of war.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HINTS TO HOUSEBREAKERS DON'T MOLEST FAMILIES WHOSE WATCH WORD IS PREPAREDNESS Wrong, Brother Any people which ceases to meditate ceases to be great. With hustle and clatter we are laying waste our inheri- tance of wisdom from the fathers, We need nothing so much as to learn how to meditate—Boston Transcript. IONSENSE! What's the matter with Josephus Danicls? Isn't he a meditator? Doesn't the Colonel meditate constantly? After the Lusitania was torpedoed didn't Presi- dent Wilson lock his closet door for several days and medi- tate? Read the meditations of Congress as published daily in the Record If Charlie Chaplin or Henry Ford had not spent time in meditating, do you suppose that either of them could be so funny as he is? Consider the profound meditations of Mr. Theodore Shonts, and how much they netted him in subway contracts. Some day our meditations are going to be rudely inter- rupted. Then we may wake up and do something. Don't H'c# up on our list of “ Don'ts” we should put: “ Don't get out an encyclopaedia a few months before a world war breaks loose.” Wait until it is all over. Then you won't have to look back upon anything like this, in the latest edi- tion of the Encyclopaedia Britannica: “The Belgian officer is technically as well trained and educated as any in Europe, but he lacks practical experience in military service.” Safety First and Last RS. CATTERSOD I am actually afraid to get my bank book balanced, for fear I have made a mistake. Mrs. Hatterson: Why don’t you do as I do? I keep on drawing the money out until they won't let me have any more. comicbooks.com