Life, 1917-12-20 · page 29 of 40
Life — December 20, 1917 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Worse Than a Blunder"** criticizes the Red Cross for donating $100,000 to the American Medical Association for animal research in France. The satire argues this contradicts the Red Cross's identity as an "angel of mercy"—the organization should not support vivisection (animal experimentation), which violates public values of compassion. The accompanying illustration of a soldier with bayonets reinforces the irony: even a war dog wounded in service would be betrayed if strapped down for scientific torture. **"One Obstruction Removed"** celebrates Republican congressman Mann's illness forcing him to step down as House leader. The joke mocks Mann by noting Democrats previously used him as a convenient excuse ("Well, Mann is no better"), implying his absence actually improves Republican prospects. **"Status Quo Ante Brickbats"** appears to be a brief humorous exchange with ethnic Irish dialect humor typical of the era, though its specific reference is unclear from the text alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE 1057 Worse Than a Blunder HE American Red Cross has given nan one hundred thousand dollars of ~— its fund to the American Medical —S Association for research work in France—to include experiments on ani- mals. Many hundreds of thousands of the hest people in the United States are Dae vigorously opposed to the useless rs _ cruelties of vivisection. And now they i discover that they are sacrificing time, ~ money and enthusiasm to a practice that violates their every sense of jus- tice and mercy. Can the American Red Cross, as an “angel of mercy,” afford to do this? “Angels of mercy” are not engaged af in that line of work. It would, indeed, be a calamity should the American peo- ple continue to believe that their money is expended for any such purpose. The work of the American Red Cross is far too precious in its proper field to be weakened by any support, open or secret, of cruelty to animals, And what a reward for the Red Cross dog! When too seriously Former Opera Singer: sQUA-A-HADS RI-UI-H1-HIGHT! wounded to continue his heroic serv- ice, shall he be strapped to the bench for scientific torture? One Obstruction Removed R. MANN, Republican leader in the House, is indisposed, and, for the present, at least, will give up being leader. This is good luck for the country, and great luck for the Republicans, who emit, pretty generally, manifesta- tion of relief. Mr. Kitchin seems to be unimpaired, and the Democrats will have to carry him. It will be harder than ever, since heretofore they have been able to say: “Well, Mann is no better.” Status Quo Ante Brickbats = E name is Meginness,” announced Pat, “and Oi'm ready to foight “Tam sorry to disturb you, Mr. Smith, as long as there's breath left in me but present business conditions make it body necessary for me to collect before going “Yis,” hissed Mike, “that's phwat down your chimney.” you Meginnesses foight with.” Y xun | } comicbooks.com