Life — December 27, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "One Way to End It" This political cartoon from *Life* magazine (page 1079) depicts a chaotic military scene titled "One Way to End It," appearing to comment on World War I. The central figure is a military officer standing atop an explosion of weapons, ammunition, and destruction. Visible text includes "Reserved for the Royal Family" and "Attila could always be found in the thick of battle," suggesting comparisons between modern warfare and historical barbarism. The cartoon satirizes the futility and brutality of WWI—showing how mechanized warfare creates only devastation rather than resolution. The ironic title and the "Attila" reference mock the notion that militaristic approaches could productively "end" the conflict, instead presenting only endless carnage and destruction.