Life, 1916-07-20 · page 18 of 44
Life — July 20, 1916 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page (1916) uses Shakespeare's *Henry IV* to satirize President Wilson's political temperament. The top cartoon shows Wilson as a figure standing in a barren landscape labeled "UNITE[D] STA[TES]," with "PREPARED[NESS]" in the sky—referencing heated 1916 debates over American military preparedness before WWI entry. The text presents Wilson's lines about being "too cold and temperate" and needing to become "Mighty and to be fear'd"—mocking his reputation for cautious diplomacy while pressured by interventionists. Below, "Campaign Prospects" discusses Judge Hughes's nomination (Republican candidate, 1916) and warns that Theodore Roosevelt ("the Colonel") will attack Hughes viciously with "bludgeons and poisoned gas," predicting the Colonel will retaliate with "volleys of bad eggs." This reflects Roosevelt's notorious combativeness in politics. The small cartoon shows two figures arguing, labeled "CRITICS," capturing the nasty tone expected in the 1916 campaign.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE CALL OF THE WISE From Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part | (Revised American Edition, 1916) ACT 1. SCENE 3 ASHINGTON. Enter Presivent Witsox, Seceetaries Daniecs, Baker, Lansinc, McAvoo and others. My blood hath been too cold and temperate, Unapt to stir at these indignities, And you have found me; for accordingly You tread upon my patience; but be sure I will from henceforth rather be myself, Mighty and to be fear'd, than my condition: Which hath been smooth as oil, soft as young down, And therefore lost that title of respect Which the proud soul ne'er pays but to the proud. Campaign Prospects LONG of the suggestion in Lire that the nomination of Judge Hughes “ ought to give us a high-level campaign" the Courier-Journal says sadly that that is true cnoug! only, and unhappily, our political campaigns are never very ‘high level.’ ” To be sure. So far as the candidates’ treatment of each other is concerned we may have a high-level fight, but there's the Colonel! Already there is a war on him with bludgeons and poisoned and it may make him mad, and when he gets mad the Colonel is liable to retort with volleys of bad cgKs. But, anyhow, so far it’s not a hot summer. CRITICS MERE’S CUSSIN’ FER Ye, JIMMIE!” “ YES, BUT DERE’S FLAWS IN 1T]" comicbooks.com