Life — October 18, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Beetleburgh Opens Its First Training Camp" This is a single satirical illustration by Harrison Cady depicting an insect community establishing a military training camp. The cartoon anthropomorphizes beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and other insects as if they were human soldiers and civilians organizing for war. The satire likely comments on militarization and war preparation, presenting the serious business of military training as absurd when performed by insects. The detailed chaos—with tiny tents, marching formations, equipment, and flags—parodies how human societies mobilize for conflict. Published in *Life* magazine (page 619), this appears to be social commentary on contemporary military buildup, possibly during a period of international tension, though the specific historical moment remains unclear without publication date context.