Life, 1916-08-10 · page 22 of 38
Life — August 10, 1916 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical commentaries typical of Life's editorial stance: **"German Credit Not Hurt"** mocks Germany's reputation for dishonesty, particularly regarding false reports about naval losses at the Battle of Jutland (WWI). The satire argues Germany's credibility is already destroyed—you cannot damage what's already ruined. **"Children Are Useful"** criticizes unethical medical experimentation on orphans and poor children, referencing Dr. J.W. Stickler's case of deliberately infecting children with disease. It sardonically suggests researchers exploit vulnerable populations as "material." **"Tell-Tale Record"** presents a dialogue mocking college professors' poor judgment on public matters. **"No Takers"** satirizes an advertisement promising English mastery through books, arguing that in post-WWI America, silence—not eloquence—is valuable. The jab at President Wilson (known for his oratory) suggests words have become overused and worthless ("pyramided and over-rigged"). The accompanying rural image reinforces a preference for quiet labor over verbose leadership.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
238 ‘1 EE « German Credit Not Hurt A damaging blow to German credit was struck by the false report of losses in the naval battle off Jutland, —Springfield Republican. OTHING can damage German credit. It has been completely busted for nearly two years. Individual Germans may be this or that, but no one of average sense expects Germany to speak the truth if untruth will serve her turn better. No one expects her to keep her word a minute after it pays to break it. Damage German credit? It's like spiking a gun after the breech is blown off. You can’t do it. Children Are Useful Dr. Pearce then considers the ‘case of Dr. J. W. Stick- ler, who was “charged with inoculating a little girl of four and a boy of eight years with foot-and-mouth disease and with exposing these children after recovery from foot-and-mouth disease to the infection of scarlet fever.” There is not the slightest doubt about the truth of the charge.—Sydney Richmond Taber in Living Tissue. 'HERE is no cause for surprise in this charge. The experimenter loves his work, and the step from dogs and monkeys to children is short and easy. “ Researchers” are secretive. But the public knows that orphans and the children of the poor often serve as “ material.” The wonder is that such practices are tolerated in a civil- ized community. Tell-Tale Record RAWFORD: You seem to think that a college edu- cation doesn’t fit one for the problems of life. Crausnaw: I judge by the mess the average college professor makes of it when he undertakes to discuss pub- lic questions, THE SUICIDE PACT No Takers N extensive advertisement is be- ing circulated telling us how, by reading certain books, one may “be- come a master of Engli But why, in these piping times of peace, should anyone want to become a master of English? Mr. Wilson is a master of English. He has spent a lifetime in learning how to express himself. Nobody, so far as we know, has succeeded any better. And look at him! What we need most in this country is masters of silence. At the present moment there has been a sad slump in English. Most of us are bearish on words. The market has been pyra- mided and over-rigged. Words are a “The ploughman homeward plods his weary way drug, with few takers. There is a big And leaves the world to darkness and to me.” bull movement in silence coming.