Life — July 12, 1917 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Page 45 Analysis This page is primarily **advertising and political commentary**, not satirical cartoons. The top cartoon "Back to Nature" depicts a couple relaxing outdoors—likely satirizing the leisure class or vacation culture. The main content is a **political article about Germany** following WWI. Major Morath, a German military critic, argues Germany's lesson from the war is to build a stronger army. The piece presents his argument that Germans should prepare militarily for future conflict, suggesting the world must choose between "thrash[ing] the world or be thrashed." The bulk of the page is a **Nujol digestive aid advertisement** targeting vacation travelers, claiming the product prevents digestive problems from travel stress and dietary changes. The political commentary reflects post-WWI anxiety about German militarism and rebuilding—concerns that would prove prescient regarding 1930s-40s developments.