Life, 1918-03-21 · page 28 of 56
Life — March 21, 1918 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Prussian militarism and German character during what appears to be World War I. The top cartoon contrasts a German "establishment for the utilization of corpses" with American medical ethics, showing the Germans casually experimenting on a dog while Americans practice responsibly on animals—implying German brutality and disregard for human life. The article discusses the "Prussian junker" (aristocratic military class) as embodying pure self-interest and amorality, using a fictional character from *The Atlantic* magazine as example. It argues only death can cure such individuals. The joke at bottom plays on an illiterate soldier's handwriting being so poor the uncle cannot distinguish whether the medal was for bugling (trumpet), burgling (theft), or bungling (incompetence)—satirizing military incompetence or corruption. The overall message: Germans are fundamentally immoral; Americans are civilized by comparison.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EstABUSHMENT For THE UTILIZATION oF Corpses KULTUR PRUSSIAN AND AMERICAN Practised on a live dog A Picture of a Junker “AJEIGHBOR HANS” in the March Atlantic is a re- markable disclosure of the qualities of the Prussian junker mind that is the immediate cause of the present troubles of the world. The picture is of a German settler in Mexico who is entirely emancipated from all motives of conduct except self-interest, narrowly and brutally con- ceived. He scoffs at honor as a delusion: he ignores every obligation of comity. To do what profits him, and get away with it, is his rule of life. He follows that rule with acertain ability, and with a total obliviousness to the shame and wrong of it. Without being painful, the narrative is deeply impressive It reads true, and its essential’truth is attested by what one Iearns in talk with persons who have had experience with this type of German. The conclusion forced on the -mind is that the only cure for persons of this species and de- velopment is death. Undecided NCLE EZRA: How’s the boy doing who went to the Fine. He just got a medal for something, but he writes such a durn poor hand that I can’t tell whether it’s for bugling, burgling or just plain bungling. GRAND LARCENY comicbooks.