Life — September 27, 1917 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 493 **The Cartoon "Somewhere in Space"** depicts two angels attending to an unconscious or deceased military officer amid clouds. This appears to be a WWI-era commentary on military casualties—specifically, the article "President, But Not an Athlete" discusses whether President Wilson (referenced in the text) possessed sufficient physical vigor for the job. **The Article's Point:** The author argues that while Wilson lacks the athletic robustness of predecessors like Roosevelt and Taft, a President needs mental capacity and decision-making ability more than physical strength. Wilson's administrative competence matters more than his "horse-powers." **The Cartoon's Irony:** It juxtaposes this debate about presidential fitness with the grim reality of soldiers dying in actual combat—suggesting the philosophical question becomes moot amid wartime casualties.