Life, 1916-07-27 · page 4 of 32
Life — July 27, 1916 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon satirizes German militarism, specifically Kaiser Wilhelm II. The caption identifies it as "The Discovery (and Conquest) of America by Herr Kristopher Kolumberg" — a mocking reference combining Columbus with a German name. The exaggerated military figure with an enormous belly, elaborate uniform, and sword represents Prussian military swagger and imperial ambition. The soldiers with bayonets in the background emphasize militaristic aggression. This appears to be American satirical commentary on German imperialism and expansionism, likely from World War I era, using historical parody to critique contemporary German military pretensions and their threat to democratic values represented by the American context.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1942 THE DISCOVERY (AND CONQUEST) OF AMERICA BY HERR KRISTOPHER KOLUMBERG The Bird By Jay Jerome Williams HE “boys "—fourteen hundred 0! them in their faded blue suits—filed into the mess hall of the state peni- tentiary for the day's last meal. As guards tapped the cement floor with their stout wooden canes they, the prisoners, took their seats Speech was banned, and the quict was tense, for as yet it had not been shat- in. silence. tered by the clatter of ‘dishes, spoons, forks and knives. High above on an iron mo a bird twittered, and i was directed to it, for only the antly every eye eyes of children can be disciplined. It was a sparrow, and it was help- less. It had flown into the place through an opened window, and the glare of electric lights within Blinded it. Suddenly the prison f 1 A FEW LESSON verberated from wall to wall. The bird was frightened. It took to flight in terror and struck another beam. Fighting blindly for life, but stunned by the blow, it fluttered down, and its rimming teacher) DROW NING, Girl (10 * DROWNING soft body met one of the benches that served as a table. A murderer reached for With infinite tenderness he picked it up. It lived! He arose from his stool, walked to the opened window and released it. Gladly it took to wing. guard the man’s action. What the hell do you mean g your scat and violat- ing one of the rules?” he de- manded as he advanced threaten- ingly. “Go back now and report for solitary in the morning.” witnessed ISITOR (in asylum): That man over there seems perfect- ly rational. Keerer: One of worst cases. He was caught on the street the other day explaining to a crowd the mentality of Josephus Daniels. B' SSED is the man who dares to Iet his wife know that he our 1 WANT TO TAKE band began to play. There was a crash of cymbals; the music re- “YES. THERE ARE ONE OR TWO HANDSOME MEN AT THE MOTEL 1 WOULD LIKE TO HAVE RESCUE ME.” is happy. comicbooks.com