Life, 1916-07-20 · page 14 of 44
Life — July 20, 1916 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine addresses "pet virtues"—desirable character traits people cultivate. The top illustration (titled "Wilhelm: I'm Tired of This Horrible War") appears to reference World War I, showing a weary figure, likely representing Kaiser Wilhelm II, suggesting even warmongers tire of conflict. The main article argues that virtues shouldn't become excessive or burdensome. It uses a humorous example of a man who prides himself on repaying a borrowed dollar weekly—treating penny-pinching as virtue, missing the actual point of frugality. The lower cartoon about Perkins' "double personality" jokes about maintaining contradictory virtues simultaneously. The final illustration shows difficulty distinguishing between twin girls, humorously suggesting that virtue can become so exaggerated it becomes indistinguishable from its opposite.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MANA Ltn CADy. Wilhelm: I'M TIRED OF THIS HORRIBLE WAR. “THEN COME WITH ME AND REST WHERE THE OTHERS ARE RESTI Bringing Up a Pet ‘Virtue Wi AT is your particular pet virtue? erybody, as a rule, has one. How often have you heard some friend declare, “I may be all that you say, but at least there is one thing I never would think of doing.” We knew a man once who prided himself on paying back on Saturday the dollar that he invariably borrowed on Friday. He received his weekly salary on Saturday, but the following Friday he always had to borrow that dollar. He was always one day be- hind. Yet he was as proud of the fact that he never forgot to return that dollar as if he were actually saving a dollar a week. That was his pet virtue. A pet virtue is often a consoling and ‘able thing to possess, if it is not permitted to become too much of a pet. Whatever it is, it ought to be fed on plain food and have sufficient air and sunshine and exercise to keep it healthy and wholesome. No pet virtue should be coddled too much, or placed on view to try the patience of more or less tolerant and admiring friends. Of all virtues, it may be said that they thrive best on adversity, and they require a constant struggle to keep them alive and rugged. If, therefore, we insist upon making out of one of He had no way of telling the twins apart them a pet, great care should be taken not to spoil it. bs KINS’ wife has a double per- sonality.” Yes, and 1 leading a double life.” trying to offset it by comicbooks.com