Life, 1918-11-07 · page 15 of 36
Life — November 7, 1918 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts military officers at a tent, with one officer pointing to a star on the tent while speaking to another. The caption reads: "What's that star on your tent for, old man?" The response: "I just got word that my dear old grandmother has passed her examination and is now driving a motor corps ambulance." This is WWI-era satire about the home front. The joke relies on the incongruity of an elderly grandmother becoming a military ambulance driver—suggesting that wartime mobilization has reached absurd levels, pulling even the elderly into service roles. The "star" likely indicates official military status or authorization. The accompanying article "The Strange German Mind" discusses German military philosophy, while "Proceedings of the Worry Club" presents satirical commentary on post-war anxieties, including coal shortages and social disruption.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* th ae oe: aw Si. SM sie ale 4 “WHAT'S THAT STAR ON YOUR TENT FOR, OLD MAN “L JUST GOT WORD THAT MY DEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER HAS PA‘ The Strange German Mind HEN the German note spoke of demands “ which would be irrecon- cilable with the honor of the German people” all the world laughed. Some readers laughed sooner than others, but the humor of that sugges- tion is gradually permeating the whole human family. It is going on five years since the civilized world began its re-examina- tion of the German mind, and even now we have only begun to understand it. Instinctively in every case we begin by assuming that it is like other minds, and gradually and repeatedly we have to come to realization that it is not. It is most difficult to locate the precise spot where German intelligence gets off. In our relations with it we have continually to be alienists examining a patient. It is speaking very moder- ately to say that the Germans, con- sidered as a people, are not quite right DRIVING A MOTOR CORPS AMBULANCE.” in the head. If they are, the rest of mankind is not. And this we must remember anew every time we read a German note. Proceedings of the W. Chb IFE at the Worry Club is going on about 4s usual. Last Thursday evening there was an entertainment for the benefit of those who are worrying about what is going to happen to us after the w: Mr. Indigo-Blue read a stirring paper on the general disrup- tion of society. On Sunday there was a Gloom Con- cert, a prize having been offered for the best funeral march. Mr. Sikley Grouch, president of the club, read a statistical essay showing that our sup- ply of coal would last, at the present rate of consumption, until 1947. “ After that,” he said, “we will all revert to type” D HER EXAMINATION AND 1S NOW Some of the interesting subjects scheduled on the bulletin board are: The Sufferings of Posterity.” Democracy—A Passing Fad.” “The Coming Reign of Terror in New York.” The Horrors of Married Life—by a Victim.” HE POE after all, is everything. Sue: You don’t mean to say that you have actually been in a gas attack? Yes — atmosphere, Hector, the Pup: THE QUARTERMAS- TER'S DEPARTMENT HAS MY SYMPATHY. 1 KNOW WHAT IT IS TO FEED AN ARMY. comicbooks.com