Life, 1917-08-23 · page 27 of 40
Life — August 23, 1917 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Devil Cartoon (top):** Depicts a grotesque demon-like figure seated on a throne confronting a military officer (appearing to be German, given the uniform). The devil offers cynical "help" to Wilhelm (the German leader), sarcastically noting he "couldn't suggest anything that you haven't already done." This is anti-German WWI propaganda, portraying Germany's military leadership as already deeply evil. **"The War-Lord Who Loved His Cattle":** References General von Hesseler, a real German general who allegedly hoarded farm animals rather than slaughter them for food during wartime. The piece sardonically suggests Germans might develop moral revulsion against killing—but only *after* committing atrocities against humans. The implicit criticism: German leadership showed more concern for livestock than for human life. **"Dogs and Men":** A brief satirical note contrasting a news headline about a rabid dog with Germany's systemic killing of civilians, positioning German military conduct as inhuman. All three items are wartime satire attacking German militarism and atrocities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Devil One Touch of Nature HOSE who turned the corner saw that something had happened a little way down the street. A crowd was forming there, one person at a time, as curious crowds are wont to form. Still others came and peeped over neighboring | shoulders. In the midst of the gathering a child’s voice was heard. The voice indicated cither distress or anxiety. | Some man gave an order for all to stand back. Those | nearest the center med to be bending over, Automobiles came up and stopped, while the occupants inquired. Then there came’ a doctor with his leather case. He was pass- ing and saw the gathering. He crowded through to the center and inquired as to. what had happened. Something awful had happened. The little boy had lost his nickel. “DON'T you ever tire of plain black stockings?” “Oh, yes; but then 1 think ankles should be seen, and not heard.” YES, WILHELM, NOW THAT YMUR OLD CHUM TO HELP YOU; BUT 1 COULDN'T SUGGEST ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE GOTT" HAS GONE BACK ON YOU, I'D LIKE The War-Lord Who Loved His Cattle HAT was an interesting tale the papers had of old Gen- eral von Hesseler, Germany’s popular war patriarch. The food commissioners had to raid his farm because he could not bear to have his dear farm animals slaughtered, and had accumulated many more than he had proper food for. Maybe, as a consequence of the war, the German mind will turn in that way against the slaughter of human be- ings. There must be a lot of Germans who don't like it. An immense German revulsion against blood-letting is con- ceivable. Dogs and Men Dog goes mad and bites a man.—News heading. E. know of a certain Prussian gone mad, who has killed more than one man—also women and children.