Life, 1917-11-15 · page 16 of 40
Life — November 15, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces attacking Germany and its American sympathizers during World War I. **"Bob La Follette"** is a poem (credited to John Kendrick Bangs) mocking Senator Robert La Follette, a prominent isolationist and anti-war advocate. The satire presents German leaders (the Kaiser, Crown Prince, von Tirpitz, von Bernstorff) celebrating La Follette as their "special Kaiser fan" and "hired man"—implying he unwittingly serves German interests. His political defeat ("bouncin'") delights the Germans, suggesting his anti-war stance aligned with enemy goals. **"The ABC of Kultur"** is a three-panel cartoon brutally satirizing German militarism and ideology as "culture." It depicts: - **(A)** German militarism as grotesque excess - **(B)** Glorification of bloodlust and violence as national virtue - **(C)** The Church as merely a target for destruction and population control The piece portrays German "kultur" as fundamentally barbaric—equating it with militarism, bloodshed, and tyranny rather than civilization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AE Bob La Follette (With apologies to the author of “Danny Deever”) “WYJHAT makes the Kaiser grunt so hard? on-Parade. “He's dreadin’ news he’s goin’ to get,” the Pretzel Master said. “Has Austria demanded peace?” said Fritz-on-Parade. “Not on your life! Not on your life!" the Pretzel Master said. “They are bouncin’ Bob La Follette—he’s a special Kaiser fan, Who's worked for Father Billiam like a perfect hired man, And now it’s on the calendar to give the cuss the can, For they're bouncin’ Bob La Follette in the mornin’.” said Fritz- “What's turned von Tirpitz’s whiskers green?” said Fritz- on-Parade. “ His feet are gettin’ kind 0’ cold,” the Pretzel Master said. “Things goin’ wrong a bit with Tirp?" said Fritz-on- Parade. “You've struck it right; you've struck it right,” the Pretzel Master said. “They are bouncin’ Bob La Follette. stuck on him, He's stood for all his rotten crimes with vigor, verve and vim, And now his name for Dennis has become the synonym, For they’re bouncin’ Bob La Follette in the mornin’.” Old von Tirp was “What makes the Crown Prince's chin stick out?” said Fritz-on-Parade. “It's full o° dre: it's full o' dread,” the Pretzel Master said. “TI never seed the thing before,” said Fritz-on-Parade. “No more did 1; no more did I,” the Pretzel Master said. “ But they're bouncin’ Bob La Follette, and I figure out the dope, It’s gave His Roily Highness nasty dreams of hempen rope, c For Bob's been known for quite a while as Freddy Hill's White Hope, And they're bouncin’ Bob La Follette in the mornin’.” “What makes von Bernstorff’s nose so red?” said Fritz- on-Parade. “ His blowin’ of it day and night,” the Pretzel Master said. “ Has he the epizooty too?” said Fritz-on-Parade. “ He’s blowin’ off his extry tears,” the Pretzel Master said. “For they're bouncin’ Bob La Follette—he was Johann’s Badger Chum. They was thick as Kaiser Billiam and the Lord of Chris- tendom, And now their bloomin’ box o’ tricks has gone to King- dom Come, For they’re bouncin’ Bob La Follette in the mornin’.” John Kendrick Bangs. the All-Mighty iss: utterly utter. He's the whole Bill o’ Fare —Beer, Bread and Butter. Greater as Gott yet, and Better as Best, He is the Works—the entire Schutz- enfest. The A BC of Kultur iss for Blood, baby—Beau- tiful Blood. Don’t be afraid of it— wade through a flood. Blood when the day begins—Blood when it’s done— Blood will buy baby a Place in the Sun. iss the Church—in it iss People. Bang goes the gun—down comes the Steeple. When the Church falls the People will run, Then you can Shoot them with your Little Gun. comicbookgfggm com