Life, 1916-06-22 · page 21 of 48
Life — June 22, 1916 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life presents three satirical pieces reflecting American war-weariness during World War I (the headline references a hypothetical German capture of New York). **"Seasonable"** catalogues public exhaustion with war, politics, strikes, and social upheaval—yet finds comic relief that baseball season continues. The satire suggests Americans are fatigued by everything except entertainment. **"Overheard at the Movies"** mocks Charlie Chaplin (then a major film star). A child's innocent question—whether Chaplin will go to heaven if he's good—becomes a joke implying Chaplin is morally questionable or hypocritical, reflecting contemporary criticism of his public persona. **"Too Knowing"** satirizes childhood inflation: a boy once behaved for ten cents but now demands a quarter, suggesting wartime economic inflation has corrupted even children's values. **"A War Bride"** (illustration) likely depicts the social consequences of war—possibly a woman abandoned or displaced by conflict. The page reflects 1917-era American anxieties: war fatigue, celebrity scrutiny, economic disruption, and social instability.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BACK TO THEIR OWN AFTER THE CAPTURE OF NEW YORK BY THE GERMAN Seasonable WERE tired of war, and peace talk soon may be almost as deadly as “ frightfulness” and German notes an unmelodious medley. We're tired of politics and strikes, and market fluctuations in wicked stocks that fat- ten on the blood of warring nations. We're tired of Congress, tired of kings and similar devices. We're tired of transient business booms; we're tired of rising prices. We're tired of Mex- ico, and when our army captures Villa the chances are that it will be almost as tired as we are, We're tired of shows and cabarets and other joys noc- turnal; we're tired of Bryan, and like- wise affected by the Colonel. Tho’ tired of fashion's tyranny, we're pa- tient, but it rankles, in spite of women’s shortened skirts and shapely buttoned ankles. We're tired of laws, commis- sions, schemes for making people bet- ter. If someone's got to save the race, and woman wants to, let her, So if that bright millennium’s delayed for any reason, there’s comfort in the thought that we still have a baseball season! Overheard at the “Movies” ITTLE GIRL: Mama, do moving picture actors go to heaven? Motner: Yes, dear, if they are good. Litre Girt: Mama, Chaplin go to heaven? Motuer: Yes, dear, if he is good. Litre Girt: Won't God laugh when he comes in! will Charlie VERY pacifist is really working for armament, for the pacifist policy is sure to get us into a corner where we will have to fight. Too Knowing VE tried to teach my boy the value of money.” “Good thing!” “Well, I don’t know. behave for ten cents, but now he wants He used to a quarter.” A WAR BRIDE comicbooks.com