Life, 1917-10-25 · page 15 of 44
Life — October 25, 1917 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page contains satirical commentary on 1920s American politics and crime. **Top illustration** ("The Willowbys' Ward"): Shows a domestic scene where a professor struggles to concentrate on work due to a visitor's child—likely satirizing how personal distractions interfere with professional duties. **"Poor Old Father Knickerbocker"** section: References New York City governance under Mayor Mitchell, noting that police reforms have made the streets safer, though "Tammany" (the corrupt Democratic political machine) appears to be declining alongside "other autocracies." **"Awful!" section**: Reports election fraud among New York officials, lamenting rising crime and lawlessness in the country—a common complaint during the chaotic Prohibition era. **"His Dream" cartoon**: Shows Germany dreaming of prosperity, likely reflecting post-WWI economic anxieties.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
— + order to make the world safe for Teddy and the G. O. P. in 1920.” It is said that Mr. Roosevelt was deeply affected by this childish prattle, and remarked that out of the mouths of babes often came great wisdom. T.LM. Poor Old Father Knickerbocker NDER the administration of Mayor Mitchel and the present police authori- ties Father Knickerbocker has been able to take his walks abroad in comparative se- curity. After the first of the year, if Tam- many and Hylan win, the old gentleman would better change his traditional costume for a poilu’s helmet and a suit of armor. He remembers what a Tammany police force means, net i aia T begins to look as though Tammany might pass out al- together, with the other autocracies. THE WILLOWBYS' WARD. 21 SINCE MOLLY'S ARRIVAL THE PROFESSOR HAS TROUBLE IN KEEPING HIS MIND ON HIS WORK Awful ! “ SCORE of election officials in New York were in- dicted for fraud.” “Why, things are getting so bad in this country now that a man can't commit a crime without risking arrest.” “HIS DREAM”