Life, 1917-12-20 · page 12 of 40
Life — December 20, 1917 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains anti-German propaganda from World War I. "The Devil's Christmas List" mocks German leaders by wishing them character flaws (greed for politicians, indecision for generals, etc.). The cartoon labeled "One Day Off" depicts a German military commander addressing troops in a cave, sarcastically suggesting even the enemy gets holiday breaks. The piece "All for Naught" criticizes Dr. Crile, apparently a surgeon who conducted vivisection experiments on animals for medical research. The text suggests his prewar theories proved wrong, making his cruel methods pointless. The final quote mocking Germans' age—"The war is only three years old"—suggests Germans are morally immature. The overall page uses humor to reinforce wartime hostility toward Germany and critique civilian practices deemed unethical.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Germania: DO TAKE A BITE, “NOTHING DOIN The Devil’s Christmas List OR the small boy—Idleness. For the father—Forgetfulness of his own boyhood. For the preacher—Dogmatism. For the genius—Content. For the statesman—Pride of intelligence. For the politician—Greed. For the lover—Irreverence. FRIGHTFULNESS For the general—Indecision. CORPORAL SMITH, HAVING TRIED ONE OF HIS CHRISTMAS For the unfaithful husband—A too-forgiving wife. CIGARS, DECIDES TO THROW IT OVER THE TOP For the world at large—Intolerance. All for Naught Dr. George W. Crile of Cleveland, now major in the United States Medical Corps, said that his experi- ence at the front had taught him that practically all of his preconceptions concerning surgery had been wrong. —New York World. NLESS we are greatly mistaken, Dr. Crile is the surgeon who de- fended the practice of cutting up ani- mals for experiments in surgery, and whose methods revolted humane per- sons. We remember him as one of many who claimed that a large part of medical wisdom was due to vivisection. It is rather too bad now to have Dr, Crile admit that all these experiments have been in vain, and that, in the light of the war knowledge, we shall have to begin all over ag: Will he begin all over again on dogs and monkeys? ONE DAY OFF “We take our usual holiday to-morrow, De- “THE Germans have done everything cember the twenty-fifth; and I hope you'll all except eat their enemies.” come back the next day prepared to work harder “Well, give them time, The war is than ever.’ only three years old.” comicbookseergy