Life, 1916-11-09 · page 12 of 40
Life — November 9, 1916 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces from early 20th-century Life magazine. **Top cartoon** ("He Went to the City to 'Make Good' for Her"): Shows a man reclining in what appears to be a cave or shelter, suggesting he has failed to achieve success in the city despite presumably going there to improve his circumstances and impress someone (likely a woman). **"Germans and Beer" section**: Comments on German immigration to America, debating whether Germans pose a danger due to their beer consumption and large numbers (referencing post-August 1914, early WWI period). **"The Real Culprit" section**: A dialogue mocking railroad officials who blame inventor James Watt for a railroad crash by attributing it to his discovery of steam power—an absurdist critique of deflecting responsibility. **Bottom cartoon** ("The Salvation Army"): Depicts the Salvation Army with their distinctive drum, likely satirizing their social welfare activities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE WENT TO THE CITY TO “ MAKE GOOD” FOR HER Germans and Beer THe Germans want their beer, and ought to have it. As drinkers they are not troublesome. All the same, it may become an argument in favor of the proscription of beer that Germans would not come in dangerous numbers to a beerless country, There have been times since August, 1914, when we seemed to have more Germans than was consistent with safety. The Real Culprit ONES: And have they fixed the blame on any special person for that last railroad smash? Brow Why, the railroad officials are trying to fix the blame on James Watt for first discovering the motive power of steam! THE SALVATION ARMY