Life — August 30, 1917 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page mocks various military units and social groups through caricatured figures in exaggerated uniforms. The caption "WHY NOT MAKE THE UNIFORM ATTRACTIVE?" suggests ironic criticism of unattractive or ridiculous military dress. The labeled units appear to reference actual regiments (Black Watch, Grenadiers, Bombardiers) alongside what seem to be society groups or clubs (Piping Rock Provincials, Hardware Club Cuirassiers). The absurdly drawn figures—some skeletal, some portly, some awkwardly posed—satirize the pretension of military uniforms and formal dress. The overall message appears to criticize either military aesthetics, the vanity of uniform design, or possibly the quality of soldiers themselves. Without specific historical context, the exact targets remain unclear, but the humor derives from reducing dignified military tradition to ridiculous visual spectacle.