Life, 1918-11-07 · page 8 of 36
Life — November 7, 1918 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes World War I peace proposals. The top cartoon mocks the "Crown Prince" (of Germany, identifiable by his military uniform and spiked helmet) reassuring his wife that if anything happens to "Papa" (Kaiser Wilhelm II), he'll inherit the throne—suggesting German leadership's self-interest over genuine peace. Below, two sections mock peace efforts: "Why Not Try This First?" satirizes proposals for a "Peace League" composed of prominent American businessmen (Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford, etc.) settling disputes through boxing matches—absurdly trivializing conflict resolution. "A Peace Defensive" depicts a Rastus character (a racist caricature) whose wife prevents him from fighting, suggesting stereotypes about Black masculinity and domestic conflict. The bottom cartoon mocks overeager military enthusiasm. The page reflects wartime skepticism about peace initiatives.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Crown Prince: DON'T WORRY. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO PAPA, YOU HAVE ME Why. Not Try This First? HE Peace League of more or less belligerent nations suggests that we might have, just for practice, a Peace League on a smaller scale right here at home. How would a Peace League composed of Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford, Robert La Follette, George Creel, W. R. Hearst, Ogden Reid, Henry Cabot Lodge, W. H. Hays and Joseph Tumulty do for a starter The rules could be catch-as-catch-can, three-ounce gloves, with ample police protection. If, among these gentlemen harmony could be established, then a permanent peace basis for the world at large need not be considered impossible. Moderate 'OUNG NORWEGIAN FARMER (walking into a prominent bar-room in one of the large cities): Ay want a drink of squirrel whiskey. Bartenver: We have no squirrel whiskey. you some Old Crow. Younc NorweciAn Farmer: Ay no wanta fly. Ay yust wanta yump—yump around a leetle. I can give A Peace Defensive R TUS'S wife, Snowball, never let her drafted hus- band go back to camp with the last word, and her last words were usually very rough and bitter. One morn- ing, as Rastus came out of the kitchen door with his wife’s voluble accompaniment of vituperation, he turned and loosed this Parthian shaft: “See heah, Snowball! Ah axes you again, and Ah axes you nice. Ah wants you to quit yuh naggin’ me. Ah wants to fight dis heah wah in peace.” THE COMMAND EVERY LEATHERNECK WOULD LIKE TO HEAR? “FIRE AT WILL!” comicbooks.com