Life, 1916-12-07 · page 64 of 94
Life — December 7, 1916 — page 64: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page from around 1916-1918 uses dark humor to mock Christmas during World War I. The main cartoon depicts a coroner at a family death scene on Christmas morning. The joke: the coroner misinterprets the "murder and suicide" as actually just each family member getting exactly what they wanted—suggesting Christmas gifts are so disappointing they're literally fatal. The second item, "His Forte," jokes that a Tulsa man whose entire family plays instruments describes himself as a "pessimist"—implying constant musical practice in close quarters is torture. "Unkept Resolutions" satirizes world leaders' failed war aims: the Kaiser wanted to dine in Paris; King George aimed to force the Dardanelles; President Wilson wanted troops out of trenches; Bryan promised non-interference; and capturing Mexican revolutionary Villa remained elusive. The humor lies in these grand military objectives remaining unfulfilled despite the war's continuation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1044 The Inevitable ‘O the eye of the child it is a horizon sunken beneath the horizon, As yet unseen, unapprehended, un- guessed. But as the years snow their flaked and filmy dreams upon Man's brain, Where he watches them dissolve like luminous gems in vitriol, The Inevitable, like a fabulous buzzard forever hungry for a Gettysburg or a Marne, Sweeps around his spirit in hour-nar- rowing circles like a prodigious lasso, Or remains poised and motionless over his head like a vulture a-roost in the air, Where it waits with the patience of the Sun for the Earth. Benjamin de Casseres. Coroner: Christmas Life JUST BEFORE HE FELL OUT OF BED WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE—MURDER AND SUICIDE, ON CHRISTMAS “NO, SIR; IT'S JUST THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY GOT EXACTLY WHAT ME WANTED,” His Forte RLY every member of a Tulsa man's family performs on some kind of an instrument. An old Towa neighbor, who was visiting at his home, remarked that it must be a source of great pleasure to him. The father made no reply. “Really,” continued the Iowa man, it is remarkable. Your youngest son is a cornetist, both your daughters are pianists, and your wife is a violinist. Now, what are you?” replied the old man, “I am a pessimist.” Unkept Resolutions HE KAISER'’S: To dine in Paris. Krxc Georce’s: To force the Dar- danelles. Mr. Forv’s: To have the boys out of the trenches. Tue Prestpent’s: navy. Against a larger Mr. Bryan's: Not to meddle. 2? 2: To capture Mr, Villa. ENSHAW: I hear he was oper- ated on, What did he have? Gee Wiz: Money. comicbooks.com