Life — May 16, 1918 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts an elderly gentleman in formal dress shaking hands with a nurse wearing a Red Cross armband and head covering. The caption indicates he has a nephew "over there"—a common WWI-era phrase referring to soldiers fighting in Europe. The satire likely mocks wealthy or well-connected older men who leveraged family connections to secure favorable military assignments or roles for younger relatives, rather than having them serve in dangerous frontline combat. The gentleman's pleased expression and the nurse's professional demeanor suggest he's obtained some advantageous wartime position for his nephew, possibly through influence or wealth—a common criticism of privilege during the war years.