Life, 1918-02-21 · page 37 of 40
Life — February 21, 1918 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes international tensions and diplomatic posturing among world powers in the early 20th century, represented as dogs of different nationalities debating foreign policy. The **Great Dane** (Germany) chairs the meeting. A **Bulldog** (Britain) suggests eliminating "pernicious foreign elements"—specifically Chinese and Japanese immigrants—reflecting real anti-Asian sentiment. A **German Shepherd** sarcastically questions the **Police Dog** (America) about Russian relations. The Police Dog responds with patriotic rhetoric while accusing the Shepherd of being a "Boche spy" (German agent), invoking World War I tensions. The joke: these world leaders are bickering dogs incapable of honest dialogue, each spouting nationalist platitudes while accusing others of espionage. The casual racism toward Asian peoples and the absurdity of their "council of war" mock contemporary geopolitics as petty and hypocritical. The page also advertises *Drowsy*, a novel about aviation and speed—unrelated to the satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“HOW ABOUT THE CON ARROWS, YOUNG MAN? 1 UNDERSTAD IT TAKES AN AVERAGE OF NINETY OF THEM TO CAUSE A FATAL WOUND.” rier, “that I took a prominent part in one of the prize contests conducted by the same periodical.” “To return to the subject under dis- cussion,” grinned a Bulldog, “it might be well to rid the country of a certain pernicious foreign clement. The Chows, “Could lift it in the air to any height, crew, passengers the Pomeranians, the Pekingese have and cargo.” long—"” The chairman, a Great Dane, rapped sharply for order. “Our relations with both China and Japan are alto- gether satisfactory,” he sniffed with dignity. “And what of the Russian Wolf- hound?” snarled a German Shepherd. s to his statue, your Schweinhund government has another guess coming.” “Our government is the unswerving friend of democracies,” yelled the Po- lice Dog, displaying his star, “and you are a d—d Boche spy. Come mit to the station.” Time and space are conquered in the new novel by Joun Ames Mitcuett. A lover with a strange inheritance and an invention which breaks all records for speed in travel, play their part in a romance more startling than ‘“‘Amos Judd,” “The Pines of Lory’’ or ‘‘ The Villa Claudia,” etc. And the council of war adjourned Published by Stokes. Sent upon receipt of $1.50 by Lire a8 = — : Pusiisninc Company, 17 West 31st Street, New York City. Save Your Pockets and Your Keys one thing that makes one suspect that our brother has missed discovery of some likely paths to world regenera- Democracy vs. Leadership (Continued from page 309) XN request AMERICAN SPECIALTY Ci exception to his rule if he keeps on go- ing strong and pulls the world around to a right course. Brother Cram gives lists of great leaders in the generation just past, but he never speaks of Tolstoi. He in- cludes Herbert Spencer as a top-hole man, but not Tolstoi. He mentions Turgenieff, but not Tolstoi. That is tion. He ignores that great and good democratic machine, the Ford motor car. He gives up Russia. It is too soon. Democracy, even such as we have, is better than he thinks, and has in it more that is worth saving ;-but he is right in saying that without great leadership it is a peril. E M. comicbooks.com