Life, 1918-04-18 · page 16 of 40
Life — April 18, 1918 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate items reflecting American sentiment during World War I: **Top Section:** A letter complaining about postal delays—Life magazine copies took a month to reach Buffalo from New York. The editors use this to critique the "crippled" U.S. Post Office, suggesting wartime inefficiencies. **Middle Section:** "Crime Comes Home to Germany"—A satirical commentary claiming Germany is experiencing a crime wave (murders, theft, lawlessness). The joke: German soldiers committed atrocities in France, Belgium, and Armenia, so Germans shouldn't be surprised their own society is now violent. The accompanying cartoon shows Mrs. Mouse asking if she met a polecat; she replies she ate German cheese instead—implying German food is as repulsive as a skunk. **Bottom Section:** "A Stern Man's Job"—A defense of President Wilson's vindictiveness toward Germany. The author argues that if Wilson holds grudges against those who deceived him (Count von Bernstorff, Von Tirpitz, the Kaiser), that's actually *good* leadership during wartime. Punishing German "malefactors" requires an unforgiving temperament. All three items reinforce anti-German, pro-American war sentiment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
636 One Instance from Many E wish we could enlighten our readers in a matter of interest to themselves and of vital importance to ourselves. This letter from a sub- scriber demonstrates the situatiot Buffalo, N. Y., March 20, to18. Lire Puntisitxe Cosraxy. Gentlemen: Your note was re- ceived some days ago, and to-day ch zoth) the long-delayed copies Lire reached ime, ¢having been nearly a month on the long and perilous trip from York to Butialo! By the same mail the ¢ copies arrived also. These latter I am returning to you, as re- quested) (with thanks for sending That is, I am starting them hey may reach them). back, in the hope tha you—sometin Very sincerely yours, We have been unable to secure from the Post Office Department any ex- planation of the present delays or any assurance as to the future. We can only ask our readers to extend to us the same consideration that we feel for a crippled branch of the United States Government Crime Comes Home to Germany ORR PONDENTS report a crime wave in Germany. Murders, robberies and thefts abound; boys are out of hand and running wild. Considering the crimes that German men have done in France, Belgium, Armenia and everywhere else they have been, these ebullitions of the prevailing German spirit are not extraordinary. Like fathers, like sons! Mrs. Mouse: coobd HEAVENS! Div you MEET A POLE CAT? “NO—I'VE JUST BEEN EATING SOME GERMAN CHEESE.” WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE A Stem Man's Job NE persuasion about Mr. Wilson entertained by persons who dislike him is that he is a supremely vindictive man who never forgives an injury. Supposing that is true. Very well! Who pulled his leg? Count von Bernstorff. Who got him into the war? Von Tirpitz and the German war- party. Who brings to naught his peace- efforts as often as he makes them? The German war-masters. lf Mr. Wilson hates people who de- ceive and outwit him or bring to blight his best intentions, how he must have it in for the Kaiser and his instruments! A. statesman who is tenacious of well-founded antipathies is not bad for us to have at the head of our govern- ment in this war. To bring the Prus- sian malefactors to justice is a stern man's job. comicbook x #