Life — August 23, 1917 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts four female allegorical figures in classical Greek dress, each wearing a headband labeled with different concepts: "Honor," "Civility," "Temperance," and what appears to be a fourth virtue (partially unclear). The central figure labeled "Civility" stands prominently in the middle. The title "The Paranoiac" suggests the cartoon critiques someone (likely a political figure of the era) suffering from paranoia—possibly seeing threats to these classical virtues where none exist, or conversely, being oblivious to their actual decline. Without additional context about the specific publication date, the exact political target remains unclear, though the imagery invokes traditional moral values under perceived threat—a common satirical device in early 20th-century American political commentary.