Life, 1919-01-02 · page 7 of 34
Life — January 2, 1919 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a World War I-era cartoon titled "America's Answer." The top panel shows an American soldier with a rifle confronting a menacing, dark figure labeled as representing German aggression or "the enemy." The lower panel depicts Uncle Sam (identifiable by traditional dress) speaking with a young man, discussing the man's fitness for military service. Uncle Sam examines whether the recruit is "fit" and warns him to avoid "profiteers, politics, incompetents and love of power." The satire addresses American recruitment and mobilization for WWI, presenting the conflict as a moral test. The "answer" to German militarism is American military strength combined with moral integrity—the cartoon suggests that defeating enemies requires not just soldiers but ethically sound ones, free from corruption.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“that you will be the last house to go up on this avenue?” “T won't put it so strongly as that,” replied 1919. “T suppose there will be many more; that is, if we can get the material together. I don’t know. There may not be any left. You may be sitting on a scrap-heap by the time I wind up my affairs. I fancy that if I have to enter! the late Crown “OH, MAMATA, WITY SHOUL ARE ALW AMERICA’S ANSWEE Prince and his band of savages that is what will happen.” While we were thus talking pleas- antly I noticed a all Roman nose, clad in red, white man with a and king down the He was fol- blue garments, come avenue on the other sid lowed by quite a crowd. He came over and said quietly: “Well, my friend, you can't fool IRE THE ONE TO HAPTA KISS AUNTIE WHED SAYING YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO GET HER MONE: me! I’ve got your number. It's 1919.” 1919 bowed. “You must be a newcomer on the avenue, aren’t you?” asked 1919 “New to you, but not to the others. They knew me so well they always re- ferred to me as Uncle Sam! “And what do you propose to do with me?” Uncle Sam reflected. “Well, my friend,” he said at last, “T'm going to examine you and see if you are fit. If you are I'm going to keep you clear of profiteers, politics, incompetents and love of power, and help you to set an example for those who come “Go to it!” he exclaimed, “I'm ready to do my bit. I've been waiting a long time for it. Make me as fit as you can, Uncle. My! if it hadn't been for you, who knows? I might have been made in Germany! At the same time, Uncle,” he added reflectively, “don’t think you did it all. For some time to come Humility is your cue.” ‘I HEAR you've been on a triparound the country. Any signs of peace?” “Dear me, yes. The scenery is ready beginning to be covered with advertisements.” comicbooks.com