Life, 1917-12-13 · page 15 of 40
Life — December 13, 1917 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main political cartoon depicts a large globe labeled "NEW YORK" being attacked by figures representing various threats—labeled "ANARCHY" at the top. Multiple armed or aggressive figures swarm the sphere, with the caption "MAKING NEW YORK SAFE FOR 'DEMOCRACY.'" This satirizes post-World War I anxieties about radical political movements and anarchism threatening American cities, particularly New York. The cartoon mocks the gap between rhetorical promises of safety and actual chaotic conditions. Below are three brief satirical pieces: "A Cold Proposition" (a poem about maintaining "cold cash"), "Expert" (mocking job interviews), and "The War and Matrimony" (a dark rhyme about why soldiers shouldn't marry). A sketch shows a banquet scene, captioned about inviting baseball fans to insure "brevity of speech." The overall theme critiques post-war American society's instability and contradictions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1003 A Cold Proposition F we would win against the Hun, Against the heast creation dreads, We must have always, every one, Cool heads If we would sce ideals live, Avert the universal crash, We must in boundless measure give Cold And lastly, would we sce him fall, Within his vitals he must fcel That thing that he fears the worst of all, Cold stect. MeLandburgh Wilson. Expert MPLOYER: The position requires a great amount of mechanical ex- perience APPLICANT T have owned a sec- ond-hand sautomobile for two months, Emrtover: Accepted! “DYON'T you think college is wear- ing on him?” “Possibly. You can't learn how to MARKING NEW YORK SAFE POR “DEMOCRACY” be a drunkard and a gambler without working up to it.” should he absolutely and pe suppressed. so that nothing shall be heard of them until the over If we are to have govern: hye tantrums st not he till the war. Tia lotot 4 ictory re to get I tion by mob ons, Jet us put it off at least until ive settled accounts with Germany we ready to give a new enemy due The War and Matrimony sons Why Girls Marry iidiers B' CAUSE he is anc fecause he is a private cause he was drafted. cause he enlisted use he is in the infantry, se he is in the cavalry | use she is sure he will not come ack. TU INSURE BREVITY OF SPEECH AT BANQUETS, INVITE A FEW BASEBALL FANS