Life, 1919-03-13 · page 12 of 42
Life — March 13, 1919 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes post-WWI peace negotiations and territorial disputes. The top silhouette depicts various national figures and representatives at what appears to be peace talks—a visual metaphor for the chaos of competing demands. The article critiques how different nations' newspapers celebrate their own victories while protesting others' gains. It mocks Germany's "radiant self-satisfaction," Bulgaria's belief it deserves Allied protection, and Turkey's claims to teach Armenia and Armenia's counter-claims. The lower cartoon, "Growing Old Gracefully," shows two figures at a piano—likely satirizing aging European powers (possibly Spain and another nation) dealing with diminished global influence post-war. The humor derives from their pretense of dignity despite reduced circumstances and bargaining power in the new international order.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
RENOUN Humors of the Head-Lines HE : the news since dearth of 1 the armistice has compelled our American press to live on an airy diet of rumors and prophe- cies—rumors and prophecies that are We their that bewildering in mutability United German read one day favors the sinking of war- ships, and that Great cat the sinking of German war-ships, and that the United States protests : third that Great Britain and the Unit States 2 Sritain protests on the next that lain favors on the e in accord concermng Ge ! man war-ships, and that France pro- tests—nohody knows against what peace of mind is shattered one morn- ASH WEDNE: ING THE DEVIL AND ALL HIS WORKS ines announcing that Italy Hotted ing hy head- is dissatisfied with the terri Colonel House ; a had ti to ory her by hefore we have recover from the Italy’s recaleitrance, comes House the Powers shock of the happier word that Colonel himself asserts the unity o We brea developments . and await further The only things made plain to us so far are Germany's radiant seli-sat faction, Bulgaria’s touching belief that she is the Mlies’ protégé, and Turkey's “Want Turkey,” are the very America to tallest head-lines one day. “ America to Teach are the very tallest the next. That censor of he iry insonciance. Teach Armen head- lines distinguished found it, Mr. Worn nn Radio re GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY ! Adams, maintained a dents of conflicting traditions ar peraments teach one another m feetively, and here is a splendid to illustrate his views. Perhaps it is complimentary told that Germany will accept peace, but not a Clemenceau Perhaps we should be touched Sulgaria says she relies on Pres Wilson to assure her the full fruits her honest toil, of the deportation butcheries she so faithfully exce Perhaps the universal enthusiasn the fourteen should disturbing reflection that every r them theology points appears to read into what wishes to draw out. exegetical page of priated by contending theolog English lady who impersonated them a faney dress hall, on New Year-eve in London, might throw some fricudly light upon the subject The demands of the Central Powers who voice them more arrogantly day hy day, and the demands of the new to think that t Powers, who scem war fought ment, leave little to the Allied P. but the privilege of paying bills and Den- for their advance was soothing the general discontent would like to reappropriate he and Spain with unhumor je Ceuta mark lost duch ous gravity proposes to ce Great Britain in return for Gibr. There is an old and pleasant story of a Spanish grandee who, having { and broken his nose, observed dis: fully, “This comes of walking on the rth.” Wherever S ing now, it is certainly not upon the ain may be walk- earth, nes Repplicr