Life, 1916-08-17 · page 26 of 38
Life — August 17, 1916 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1915 *Life* page contains editorial and satirical content attacking President Woodrow Wilson's response to the Lusitania sinking (May 1915), when a German U-boat torpedoed the British passenger ship, killing nearly 1,200 civilians including Americans. **The Wilson essay** argues Wilson failed morally by not immediately declaring war. The author claims "the morning after the Lusitania was torpedoed," Americans knew retribution was necessary—yet Wilson pursued diplomacy instead. The verdict: "That day Woodrow Wilson fell." **The fortune-teller cartoon** mocks Wilson indirectly through a palm-reader telling a client she cannot read his palm because it's "frostbitten"—a dig at Wilson's cold diplomatic response when "hot" military action was demanded. **"Wages"** satirizes gender pay discrimination as economically rational, since women supposedly quit after marriage while men are "fastened" to jobs permanently. The remaining items are lighter satire about August (personified) and absurdist real-estate humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
282 “TERE Woodrow Wilson 'HERE are certain principles by which we can judge certain men, because their actions are not dependent upon chronology, but are good for any time. And it is only in this way that we can judge President Wilson. No matter what his friends may say in his favor, or his critics pronounce against him, certain principles of human nature are plain. One of these is that when a considerable num- ber of men, women and children of one nation are de- liberately destroyed on the high seas by the express order of another nation, and are warned beforehand in the papers that the thing is going to be done, nothing but retri- bution on the offending nation counts. It is useless to talk of diplomacy, to argue pro or con about international law, or to state that the avoidance of war is supreme. When you are unjustly attacked, there is only one thing to do. Every man does it. It has always been done. It is a rule that comes before typewriters or oratory. The morning after the Lusitania was torpedoed the great majority of men in America who loved their country both for its past, its present and its future knew what they would do. There was no argument about it. There never could be. There never will be. That day Woodrow Wilson fell. Bryan and Daniels, however misguided, could not have killed him. War or no war, peace or no peace—that day Woodrow Wilson fell. Wages HE position is very simple—a woman is paid less than a man because she is worth less. The fact that she does the work as well isn't the last word. The element of permanency enters. Men and women are in a way to marry, but when a woman marries she quits her job, whereas a man fastens himself to it with hooks, so to speak, of steel. Then, too, there is always the chance that a woman will marry her boss—he is entitled to some rebate on that account. E, YOUR PALM 1S I HAVE JUST BEEN SHAKING HANDS WITH HUGHES AND FAIRBANKS.” HORACE, 1 MUST WITHHOLD MY ANSWER UNTIL YOU ATTAIN GREATER HEIGHTS How to Treat August NY people are afraid of August. She has caused them so many annoyances in the past, they have lost their nerve. The best way is to walk right up to her and look her in the face and tell her the fatal truth. Say “ August, you're muggy! Now, get over it!” She will. She will be bright and cheerful, full of cool airs. She means well. The Modem Way ‘OR RENT: Beautiful concrete garage on the sea-shore. All modern inconveniences. Gothic windows. Hot and cold running buffet, Chauffeur’s salt-water bath and read- ing room. Large floor space for dancing. Extra bedrooms for chauffcur’s guests. Pianola. Southern exposure. Solid silver tea service. Will guarantee your chauffeur’s com- including small cottage for yourself and family, comicbooks.com