Life, 1916-07-13 · page 12 of 40
Life — July 13, 1916 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon: "Puzzle - Find the Real Freaks"** This cartoon contrasts a group of well-dressed beachgoers observing various sea creatures (octopus, seal, snake, starfish). The satire suggests that the "real freaks" are the humans themselves—a commentary on human vanity and pretension. By positioning fashionable people as equally bizarre to marine life, the artist mocks societal affectation. **Bottom Cartoon: "Why They Bought a Larger Car"** An overstuffed automobile packed with passengers illustrates the absurdity of purchasing a larger vehicle. The joke likely critiques either consumer excess or the impracticality of automotive solutions to social/family problems—a common satirical theme during the automobile boom era. **"Life's Platform"** lists 12 numbered beliefs mixing genuine social commentary (tariff reform, child labor opposition) with humorous absurdities (reducing white paper costs, preserving Shakespeare).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PUZZLE FIND THE REAL FREAKS Life's Platform WE believe in the permanent retirement of Josephus * Daniels and the complete mystification of the tariff. 2. We advocate, and pledge ourselves to obtain, a life position for Theodore Roosevelt as Critic of National Morals and Supreme Arbiter of Righteousness. 3. We humbly suggest the appointment of Woodrow Wilson as President Emeritus of Humanity. 4. We believe in the forgiveness of Progressives and the conciliation of business. 5. We believe in the divine right of Wall Street to dic- tate the affairs of the party, and we agree to protect the Trusts from the cruel oppression of those who would abolish such holy institutions as commercial sabotage and child labor. 6. We believe in maintaining a national Sense of Humor, and advocate, to that end, a wider distribution of the Congressional Record. 7. We believe in subscribing to Lire for long terms of years. 8. We believe in saving the Kaiser for a Judge and Jury. 9. We believe in surrounding the German-American bomb-plotters with all the comforts of Sing Sing. We believe in the human race, generally speaking; ntente Allies and the works of William Shakespeare. 1t. We advocate the continuation of the world, the dis- comfiture of William Barnes, and the broad-minded toler- ance of Vers Libre poets. 12, We believe in reducing the cost of white paper, in getting married within reason, in having babies, automo- biles, relations, colds in the head, homes, neighbors, funerals, ball games, plays by Bernard Shaw and all other fundamentals guaranteed by the Constitution. WHY THEY BOUGHT A LARGER CAR comicbooks.com