Life, 1917-05-31 · page 12 of 38
Life — May 31, 1917 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes **German autocracy** during World War I. The caption identifies the patient as "Dr. Democracy" suffering from "autocratitis," with the diagnosis that removal of the German Kaiser (Hohenzollern) is the only cure. The doctor represents Allied perspective, suggesting Germany's authoritarian government under Kaiser Wilhelm II is a disease requiring radical treatment—specifically, regime change. The cartoon advocates for eliminating the German monarchy as essential to winning the war and establishing democracy. The surrounding content mocks military volunteerism and includes social satire about proper etiquette. The overall page reflects American anti-German propaganda and pro-democratic messaging typical of WWI-era *Life* magazine editorial cartoons.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
940 When He Volunteers HE MINISTER: Trust in God and make your powder fly. His Dotinc Motuer: I wonder how long before he'll be a general. His Miuitant Fatuer: Bully for him! His Pacirist Uncte: Dear me! Dear, dear me! His Proup Aunt: He gets his brave spirit from our side of the family. His Littte Brotuer: Gee! I wish I could go. His Littte Sister: I wish I had a dress like that uniform. His Cuum: I hope he pays me that five bucks before he goes. His Best Girt: Isn't he grand! His Girt's.Cuum: Oh, you must give me a military button for my col- lection. Turik Next-poor Neicupor: I sup- pose they'll be more stuck up than ever now. Daitt Serceant: Oh, Gawd! James Gabelle, “THIS WAS GIVEN TO ME‘FOR A WEDDING PRESENT BY MY AUNT, AND I DON’T “THERE'S some talk of reforming LIKE IT, 1 WONDER IF 1 COULD GET HER MONEY BACK" Congress by weeding out the pro- Coen meters housecleaning 1 NO,#-c2" sive you her lips, but The Proper Kind of Question ell, if there’s a housecleanin; peli there $ : she may allow you the use of TF you want to be popular and make hope they leave no Stone unturned.’ them. = . . your way through life with the min- imum of friction, never ask people questions that they cannot answer. Nothing vexes the average human be- ing quite so much as that. The average human being likes to believe himself intelligent and well-informed. — Ac- cordingly, if you ask him a question which he cannot answer, it tends to expose his ignorance. But ask him something that he knows all about. He will beam on you. He will love you forever. He will think you are the most intellectual and affa- ble being in the whole universe. Test this out on the next few people you meet. It is infallible. ATIENT: Will I live, doctor? Surckon: You must! You have three more operations coming! NO TIME TO LOSE Dr. Democracy: GERMANY, YOU HAVE A VERY SERIOUS C. OF AUTOCRATITIS, UN Is he stuck on himself? YOUR ONLY HOPE IS IN THE REMOVAL OF YOUR HOHENZOLLERN: Jennie: He is if he is! comicbooks.com