Life — December 18, 1919 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon from *Life* magazine (page 1009) titled "Theirs Not to Reason Why—" The image depicts a formal official or authority figure (left) addressing a group of working-class men wearing hats and coats, gathered in what appears to be an industrial or urban alleyway. The title references the famous line from Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade" about soldiers following orders without question. The satire appears to criticize blind obedience to authority—the official delivers instructions to the assembled workers who accept them without debate or resistance. The cartoon likely comments on labor conditions, workplace hierarchy, or government directives that working people must follow regardless of personal consequence or understanding of the reasoning behind them. The specific historical context remains unclear without additional dating or captioning.