Life, 1917-07-12 · page 16 of 40
Life — July 12, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life (dated November 1918, near WWI's end) contains two satirical pieces: **Main Article "Don't Be a Pessimist!"** argues Americans shouldn't panic about wartime economic disruption. It mocks American conservatism and tendency toward extremes—we enjoy spectacles (like train collisions) but fear personal loss. The piece reassures readers that America's wealth and resources can sustain the war effort, and that solving food shortages will preserve "world liberty." **The cartoon "Nesting"** depicts birds seemingly unconcerned while human figures below appear anxious about various troubles (labeled figures include "Plumber," "Doctor," "Grocer," etc.). The caption sardonically questions whether birds would be so content "if they had our human troubles to contend with"—contrasting avian indifference with human wartime anxieties. **The "Cable Dispatch"** is mock-serious satire: it absurdly reports Kaiser Wilhelm II (Hohenzollern) lost a German presidential election to an unknown sausage-maker, receiving only 7 votes. This mocks Germany's actual recent armistice and impending regime change, presenting it as comically decisive defeat.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
56 Don’t Be a Pessimist! NE of the strongest traits of the Anglo-Saxon race is its deep- seated conservatism. British conserva- tism is known the world over, and has long been the butt of wits. We Ameri- cans have improved over gland somewhat because we have had to go through the innovating process of breaking in a new continent. But after all, we hate to be disturbed. Our pas- sion for novelty is acute only when it does not affect our pocketbooks. We enjoy intensely the sight of two en- gines coming together on the same track, but only when they do not be- long to us. The tax which affects the other fellow is highly diverting, but not when it reaches home. It is curi- ous, however, along with this conserva- tism, this resentment at having our system of life upset, is the American tendency to go to extremes. Because Congress—which, after all, fairly rep- resents the nation—feinted at putting taxes upon certain industries, and dilly-dallied at the same time, and he- cause big loans had suddenly to be raised and other taxes imposed, the business world, jarred out of its rut, jumped to the conclusion almost over- night that the bottom had dropped out of everything. The facts are, of “OH, LITTLE BOY, I WOULDN'T SIT ON THAT ICE IF 1 WERE you!” M-M-MAYRE YOUR SPANK YOU THIS OR ere AND RenwPArivs. NESTING WOULD THEY BE SO KEEN ABOUT IT IF THEY HAD OUR HUMAN TROUBLES TO CONTEND WITH ? course, that America, from every standpoint, is the wealthiest and most resourceful nation on earth; that there is small prospect of our being invaded ; that a war always stimulates industry and induces prosperity, expense of this war cannot only be easily borne, but is one of the most salutary things which could h nous from our extravagant and wasteful habits. The food prob- lem is the most serious one, and to that we should hend all of our ener- gies. Our solution of it will save the Lody and sout of world liberty. ve come Cable Dispatch ERLIN, Nov. 8, 1918.—Final results show that William Hohenzollern was defeated for President of the Ger- man Republic by Johannes Schultz, a sausage-maker of Munich. The vote was: Schultz ..ccccecees 7,630,482 Hohenzollern ....... 7 Hohenzollern has si x sons. Morro of the Order of Gam- brinus: Cheer up! The thirst is yet to come! comicbooks Goi