Life, 1918-05-02 · page 8 of 40
Life — May 2, 1918 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains WWI-era American satire mocking Frederick the Great of Prussia. The main illustration shows a soldier standing over an axe—a visual pun on "Frederick comes down" (losing status/being humiliated). The text explains that Frederick's statue was removed from public view in Washington, D.C. as a precaution during wartime, since America was fighting Germany. The article treats this humorously, noting Frederick was historically a "robber king" who plundered neighboring territories, yet America still maintained diplomatic pretense with Austria (ruled by his descendant Emperor Charles). The cartoon below depicts a figure struggling with a sundial, likely satirizing German incompetence or confusion. A brief joke about gardening and chickens follows, apparently unrelated contemporary humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
708 Last Call for Bonds! RE'S a health, good sir, to you, Secretary McAdoo! It may seem rather funny To talk with you of money. We must have it; so must you. Here's our blessing, McAdoo! If you find you're running short Don’t be anxious; be a sport. Don’t sit on your job too tight; Call on everyone in sight. When we're all of us bled white, Then—we may not think it’s funny Still—you’ve got to have that money Frederick Comes Down HE elimination of the statue of rederick the Great from public notice in Washington seems, on the whole, a timely precaution. It was liable to be blown up, and might better be safe in the cellar of the War Col- lege on the Potomac. The old rascal had redeeming traits. One of them was that he refused to bother about what newspapers and writers said. So long as he could have his way and do his will, he did not grudge critics any comfort they could get from cursing him out. As a bad man, he made good, and deserved statues in Europe, where, in his day, a robber king who succeeded in his purposes was all but universally respected. The country worst robbed by Frederick, next to Poland, was Austria. After the war our statue of him might be sent, with suitable com- pliments, to the Emperor Charles, al- ways provided that Austria survives the war, and that Charles is still em- peror. As an embellishment of Washington OW, HOW AM 1 GOING TO SET THIS CONFOUNDED SUN-DIAL AN HOUR AHEAD?” “cairo.” Frederick's statue was always a joke, because he stood for most political things that this republic disapproved. But then, all our relations with Kaiser Wilhelm, his descendant, were a joke, and the joke was mostly on us. That was the main reason for having the statue where it was. It might well appeal to the American. sense of humor. But posterity must never forget the dealings of the House of Hohenzollern PUNISHMENT with the United State a reason for fetching nd that may be Frederick's effigy out again some day. , ILLIS: this year? Guus: Yes. Then the fellow next door decided ‘to keep chickens. Wits: What did you do? Gittis: I bought the lot on the other side of him and I’m going to raise chicken-hawks. Did you plant a garden