Life, 1919-08-21 · page 13 of 40
Life — August 21, 1919 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes post-WWI Germany, mocking its claims of hardship while celebrating beer culture. The article argues that despite Germany's wartime suffering and prohibition movements (compared to American Prohibition), Germans have been "granted a boon" through access to beer—presented as compensation for their losses. The top cartoon, "The Indignation Meeting," appears to show a formal gathering, likely depicting German officials or citizens protesting reparations or conditions. The bottom cartoon, "In the Garage," jokes about mechanical problems ("a squeak in your car"), satirizing Germany's industrial capacity or automotive industry alongside broader commentary on German resilience and material recovery. The piece uses alcohol and industrial themes to ridicule German grievances while suggesting their actual circumstances weren't as dire as claimed.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Germany's Compensation ERMANY Her is a discredited nation. superman who loomed so menacingly on our horizon has shrunk to the Her imperialism is forfeited, her diplo- mats forsworn. She so conducted her world’s war as to make her name a scandal throughout the length and breadth of Christendom. She still wages a pestiferous campaign in the United States through the medium of the German-American Citizens’ League, keeping alive resentments and animosi- ties which peace might be trusted to heal. Yet to this graceless and ill-condi- tioned people has heen granted a boon which sweetens care and qualifies disaster. Munich still brews her beer, Down those unworthy German throats is poured that noble beverage; while good Americans, who would scorn the dimensions of a homunculus. least and last of Germany's crimes, drink vapid and imitative rinsings, or poison their systems with sugary com- pounds which only boyhood vive. f an sure Even when the war was on, and Germans proclaimed to the world that they were “starving,” their beer was THE INDIGNATION MEETING rt than that which American Prohibitionists forbid. Now, con- quered and bankrupt, they know that all is not lost where personal liberty survives. And what, within another year, will he the result of this survival? cans will think more and more long- ingly of German beer-gardens as we all remember them—a Wagner over- ture thundering through the cool dusk, smoke curling upward from innumer- Ameri- able pipes, and the good drink flowing from who innumerable manifested a most things sighed wistfully for the pleasant Rhine downward Thackera distaste for steins. lively German, gardens, full of repose and beauty, where tourists could drink cheap and excellent watch the flaming on the river. Beer he did not like. Apparently he did not know it, for he calls it wine and sunset a “mawkish draught,” which proves the profundity of his IN THE GARAGE WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU HEARD A SQURAK IN YOUR CAK comicbooks.com