Life — November 1, 1917 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two satirical pieces about American identity during World War I era. The top cartoon, "The Willowbys' Ward," depicts a dance scene where the Willowby family demonstrates youthful vitality through music and movement—satirizing how Americans maintained optimism and vigor despite wartime pressures. The bottom section, "U.S. What the Letters Signify," is a political commentary assigning character traits to various nations and American political figures through alliterative phrases beginning with "U." It portrays the U.S. as an "Umpire Supreme" to Father Time, while labeling Germany an "Ugly Serpent" and Turkey "Uncivilized Swine." Notably, it mocks American isolationists like Senators La Follette and Stone as embodying "Unbounded Self-love" and "Utter Stupidity," while praising Secretaries Baker and Daniels for military preparedness—clearly pro-intervention propaganda from this WWI-era satirical magazine.