Life, 1917-12-13 · page 10 of 40
Life — December 13, 1917 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents WWI-era commentary on German espionage and treatment of civilians. The main dialogue piece "American Exhibits—Yesterday" and "Today" satirizes American naiveté about German spies operating freely in the U.S., contrasting optimistic assumptions with harsher wartime realities. The illustration titled "Modern Mother" depicts a woman smoking a cigarette while holding a child, captioned as "MABEL, HOLD YOUR CIGARETTE STRAIGHT. THAT AIN'T A LADY-LIKE WAY TO SMOKE"—satirizing changing social mores and women's smoking habits during this period. The "Immediately Moderate" section references Norman Hapgood's criticism of German brutality toward women, calling for measured but firm condemnation. The small cartoon labeled "Food Control" appears to address rationing concerns. The overall tone reflects wartime anxieties about security and social change.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
998 American Exhibits YESTERDAY SEE the German spy What is he doing Oh, he is just doing what he pleases And where is he? Everywhere. You must) remember that thi aunty Will the German spy ever get locked a free c up? Oh, certainly what he set out to do. Niter he has done hi And what will happen to Will he have a nice time? Certainly he will have That is our particular 4 tice time. ure--to make things pleasant for German spies He will he well fed Indeed. yes; on the fat of the land. But, of course, there are not very many Dear me, no im only just-a few: net more than one or two in every city Mock But do we always do thin re concerned ? s this way —that is, so far as wars at first to get oi What happens then? Well, you can't always tell Always, It takes us some g. and then But the eo end of that chances are tha time, spies will be taken out and shot Good! But about how long will we have to wait until th: Not very long happens? We are already be- nning to wake up TO-DAY Why. so we are. Who would have can’t tell what may hap- Now that we're getting the spies, , what? avbe we shall then begin on the Pacifists. Who knows? har Chase FOOU CONTROL then > Mother CIGARETTE. | STRMG LADY LAK: Immoderately Moderate HERI moderate moderation, as illustrated by Norman H. Paris to the can be such a thing as im- vd in a letter from ing Post. when he said, speaking of the Germans It may be said, and said with some justice, that there has heen ch brutality in their treatment of wom- THAT WOLD YOUR ISN'T OA WAY TO SMOKE in the occupied districts, and they by toward opinion fundamental chivalry and cons tion. So we see how to praise with encouraxe t Dest An is working; the ide wrman must be Too! forward to a visit to Berlin. comichooks.gqom