Life, 1918-09-19 · page 29 of 34
Life — September 19, 1918 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on World War I-era themes: **Top Section:** Six magazine cover parodies ("If the Anti-Loafing Law Were Extended to the Girls on the Covers") mock women's idleness during wartime by imagining covers titled *Philopena Magazine*, *McNutt's*, *Ultrapolitan*, *Heavybodies*, *The Females' Firmament*, and *Sickly Stories*—suggesting women should be working rather than lounging. **"Diagnosis":** A harsh critique of German national character, blaming their militarism on blind obedience to state authority. The author argues Germans conflate state service with morality. **"Men Who Fail":** A humorous list of futile wartime endeavors, including selling ham to Jews, launching German peace initiatives (impossible during WWI), and convincing Americans soldiers can't fight. **"What's the Matter with Bilkins?":** Final joke mocks a man's minimal war sacrifice—reducing golf from 18 to 9 holes—suggesting superficial patriotism among the wealthy. The page's overall tone criticizes both German militarism and American complacency during WWI.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| | IF THE ANTI-LOAFING LAW WERKE EXTENDED TO THE GIRLS ON THE COVERS Diagnosis HE Germans have lots of sense about lots of things. The wonder about them is that at they are ¢ in others lization as 1 some respects, they should be w Their high attainments in such details of mistry and metal work seem incompatible with their cruelties and the childish prostration of their national mind before authority. The trouble scems to be that they have the courage of immoral convictions. They have been riveted to the belief that the State can do no wrong, and that rape. murder, . treachery, falselhood—every vice one can think of — are virtues when done in the service of the State or ordered y its officers. Perhaps if the Germans are able some time, and with assistance, to create a virtuous State, they may become a virtuous people, but in that direction they seem to have a long, long row to hoe. Men Who Fail HEE man who plans to sell ham sandwiches on a Jewish excursion The man who puts a cent into a slot machine The man who tries to dispose of snowshoes in Beach The man who asks a girl for a kiss The man who tries to launch a German peace drive. The man who tries to convince an American audience that our soldiers can't fight The man who tries to shout “ Ho a London air raid he Kaiser!" after AYJHAT'S the matter with Bilkiny? He doesn't seem to he stirred up by the war.” “You misjudge him cruelly. He told me yesterday that he was cutting down his golf to nine holes a day.” comicbooks.com