Life, 1917-10-18 · page 10 of 40
Life — October 18, 1917 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon satirizes Prussian militarism during World War I. It depicts a young Prussian soldier consumed by hatred—his face "dark with hate," twisted in anger. The accompanying poem by Kenneth L. Roberts shows him hating various groups ("folk to hate"), including those behind the front lines and even himself. The soldiers on the left represent the approved military establishment he's meant to emulate. The satire critiques how Prussian military culture systematized hatred as a virtue, warping youth into instruments of perpetual rage. The juxtaposition of gleeful officers with the tormented young soldier underscores the human cost of this ideology. Below are lighter pieces: personal correspondence about housing in Tobolsk and congratulations on Kerensky's marriage, reflecting post-Russian Revolution chaos.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Discouraged Prussian Youth MET a little Prussian youth: His face was dark with hate; His mouth was twisted in a sneer; His manner was irate. “A pfennig for your thoughts,” said I. “Whom are you hating now?” A frown of loathing swept across The Prussian biibchen’s brow. “TI have so many folk to hate,” He moaned, with tear-stained cheeks, “That I’m behind my schedule now By days, if not by weeks! The objects of my hate, I fear, Must soon go on the shelf; For I’ve begun to need some time In which to hate myself!” Kenneth L. Roberts. TH people who are coming to the front these days aren’t nearly so important as those who are going to WHY NOT UTILIZE THE FOOD PROFITEERS FOR BAYONET PRACTICE? the front. The Same Old Story EAR WILLY: Here we are in Tobolsk. Alexandrevna dragged me all over the city hunting for apartments until I thought my legs would drop off. She finally took the one she looked at first. It has fourteen rooms, and the rent is too high; but I suppose I have got to stand the gaff, as Alex- andrevna doesn’t think she would be satisfied with any- thing else. The walls are badly cracked, and the plaster sifts down into our food when we eat; but we have a lovely view. The people upstairs have three children, and when they run up and down the hall it sounds like the horse- race scene in “ Ben Hur.” Across the hall there is a woman who plays the phonograph until two A. M. I would like very much to shoot her. The janitor is a charming fellow ; but he lets the heat die down at 8:45 every evening, and when I kick he shows me the coal bills. Wish you were here. Nicky. P, S.—Please burn this letter. Kerensky Gets Married ERENSKY’S marriage is an admission, anew, that two heads are better than one, especially in such an ex- treme pressure of business as the Russian leader has to meet. The dictator now has a boss, and the unwholesomencss. of absolute power is tempered for him. Nobody has suggested that the new Mrs. Kerensky is a German princess, and as long as sne isn’t— Congratulations! \WHERE ignorance is bliss, ‘tis La Follette to be wise. HOW TO BE MAPPY EVER AFTER Modern OUNG LADY FROM CITY (to country store-keep- er): Have you any ice-cream forks? Store-Keerer (anxious to be up to the times): Eh, no, miss, but we're expecting some lemonade knives. comicbook a tree ore — oy