Life, 1918-04-18 · page 8 of 40
Life — April 18, 1918 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes German sympathizers among American elites during World War I. The text mocks prominent pro-German figures suffering embarrassing incidents—von Tirpitz Smith Hoopenburg (likely a fictional composite) accused of sabotaging a U.S. warship, and the Ludendorff sisters (a fictional parallel to actual German generals) in a motor car accident. The bottom cartoon contrasts two scenarios: left shows a luxurious officer in comfort; right shows a soldier in combat. The caption "How would you like to have this for a son / Instead of this?" sarcastically criticizes wealthy Americans who supported Germany while others' sons died in war—a pointed rebuke of pro-German elites enjoying safety and privilege.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ERR BUMGARTEN, who will be remembered as hav- ing blown up a large ammunition factory last August, and who now is confined in our Government Club, sprained his wrist yesterday while playing tennis. Many officials called to express their sympathy. Ata late hour last night physicians reported that Herr Bumgarten was out of danger. Washington circles are greatly depressed to hear that von Tirpitz Smith Hoopenburg, the young man who was discovered in the act of blowing up a United States war- ship in Hampton Roads, suffering from an attack of the mumps. The chief surgeon of the army is in constant attendance, however, and it is hoped that our guest will soon pass the crisis. The beautiful Ludendorff sisters, whose wonderful and picturesque plot of sending wireless messages to Berlin has excited the admiration of moving-picture managers and our Department of Justice, and who also, it will be remem- bered, were engaged in the attempt to demolish the Croton Aqueduct and putting ground glass in war bread, came near having a fatal accident yesterday. The two ladies were being driven out for their afternoon outing in the motor car provided by the government for that purpose, when the steering gear became unmanageable and the car came near HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO ILAVE THIS FOR A SON “LIPE- Our Pro-German Casualty List going ovef an embankment. Fortunately our secret service men sprang to the rescue, risking their lives. This morning the two sisters were the recipient of many congratulations. The genial Herr von Skunkling, who recently succeeded in burning up several barges loaded with grain for our army in France, and who was, in consequence, reprimanded by our Intelligence Department, is suffering from a severe attack of indigestion, due to eating too heavily after play- ing thirty-six holes of golf on the government pro-German lin| Many friends will be pleased to learn that the last bulletin reported Herr von Skunkling’s condition better, as he was able to sit up and eat a Hamburg steak. Not Peevish ARK IVAN, in his recent piece in Collier's about Baker, praises him for many things and disavowed a purpose to get rid of him. That's right! It weans the reader from the idea that Mark sits up to knock the administration. Probably Mark does not sit up with that intention, but even if you do set out to put a knife into anyone, it is better to assume an attitude that will convince observers that you are doing it in a proper spirit and not peevishly. INSTEAD OF THIS? comicbooksem)