Life, 1917-12-13 · page 11 of 40
Life — December 13, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon - "Close Harmony":** Four German-American men sing patriotic lyrics ("My Country 'Tis of Thee / Sweet Land of Liberty") while flanked by armed American soldiers with bayonets. The caption notes "a great deal of loyalty to America among German-Americans which is not understood in the Fatherland." This satirizes suspicions of German-American loyalty during what appears to be WWI-era tensions, suggesting German-Americans faced scrutiny despite their patriotic declarations. The bayonets framing them visually reinforce this surveillance/coercion. **Bottom Section - "The ABC of Kultur":** Three cartoon panels mock German cultural values (Junker militarism, Kultur as disease prevention, and "Loot" as warrior virtue), presenting them as barbaric. This wartime propaganda ridicules German ideology and justifies American opposition.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE™ \ ’ OUNTRY ‘TIS OF THEE Liperry— “CLOSE HARMONY” There's a reason for a great deal of loyalty to America among German- Americans which is not understood in the Fatherland The A B C of Kultur stands for Junker. My! IIe looks ‘Fine! See! He is singing “Die Wacht” on the Rhine. You could bet on the Rhine he would much rather be Than helping the Kaiser to get to Paree. stands for Kultur — it keeps the Beer Cold. It cures all Disease and Prevents Growing Old. It Polishes Silverware, kills any Corn, And Babies all cry for it when they are born. There's stands for Loot — the Warrior's Prize, That Quickens his foot- steps and F htens his Eyes. In each little village that’s burned to the Ground Booze and enough to go round. Havanas