Life — October 17, 1918 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon series depicts the dramatic transformation of military officers' voices through training camp. The caption indicates the humor centers on how formal military instruction changes how men speak. The panels show: 1. A waiter in a restaurant 2. Officers in military uniform speaking forcefully 3. A man singing "Darling, I Love You" 4. Someone shouting "Over There" (likely referencing the WWI song) 5. A church scene where someone declares "I do believe I'm getting my hearing back" after hearing "Amen" The joke appears to be that military training makes men's voices so loud and commanding that normal civilian activities become comically affected—the trained officer's booming voice has become his permanent state, requiring church attendance to restore normal hearing.