Life, 1917-10-25 · page 12 of 44
Life — October 25, 1917 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon depicts various male archetypes, each carrying a sign explaining their poor behavior or character flaws. The figures represent common social problems: a starving man blaming circumstance, a wealthy man claiming ruthlessness, a drunkard attributing his habits to college friends, a clergyman claiming intelligence but constrained by his church, and a husband spending his wife's money on clothes. The cartoon's title—"If We Could Only Explain"—suggests satirical commentary on how men rationalize their failings through excuses rather than taking responsibility. Each figure essentially pleads "I'm not really to blame; circumstances made me this way." The satire critiques both male self-deception and contemporary social attitudes about personal accountability, morality, and gender dynamics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A SOCIETY WOMAN CAN'T HELP BEING VAIN, BRUTE OUT OF me e JA qj | aN INTELLIGENT} 27 Me = / \ MAN, BUT} A \ LEARNED THE CHURCH }\ TO DRINK WON'T LET || AT COLLEGE ME USE |! AND MY MY BRAINS \ FOOL FRIENDS: y ALLOWANCE: FORA DELUDED oe MY PARENTS| SroLME WATS WAY 5 1M SUCH A nyISANCe @ IF WE COULD ONLY EXPLAIN