Life, 1924-07-24 · page 23 of 36
Life — July 24, 1924 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American public opinion during a military crisis (likely WWI era, given references to "the fleet" and draft age). The main cartoon features a family discussion where different generations express contradictory patriotic views: - **Father Public** demands aggressive military action against "foreigners," yet wouldn't serve himself - **Mother Public** defers to his judgment while expressing pacifist doubts - **Elder Brother** (a war veteran) calls war "the bunk" and cynically notes he's "over the draft age" now, undercutting his claimed patriotism - **Younger Brother** eagerly supports war without experience - **Sister** romanticizes soldiers' uniforms The satire exposes hypocrisy: armchair hawks demand action they won't fight in, while actual veterans reject war. The secondary cartoon about driving—where traffic cops taught a woman recklessness—reinforces the theme of unqualified instruction. The epigraph's quote about America's "national voice" demanding "justice" undercuts the petty, self-interested dialogue below.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
= gass fn “MOTHER, CHARLES AND 1 ARE GOING TO BE MARRIED THIS AFTERNOON, SO CAN 1 HAVE ON MY NEW DRESS?” The Voices (“The heart of the great American public beats true. In our dealings with other nations wwe have ever been fair; in this present crisis our national voice crics aloud and insistently for justice to all humanity."—From a speech by Senator Blah.) 'ATHER PUBLIC: I sce those dam’ foreigners are “but don't forget your Uncle Sam is still there with an kickin’ again, Don’t know why we put up with it. If army and navy of regular, fighting he-men.” I was in Washington, I'd show 'em; pack the fleet off and Motuer Pustic: I'm sure you know best, Paw. let ‘em argue with that. Evper Brotuer Pustic (indolently): I'm going to run Motner Pustic: I'm sure I don’t want war with any down the street and get a late paper. I want to see the one, but I suppose you know best, Paw. Some one has to baseball scores. James K. McGuinness put those foreigners in their place, I guess. Exper Brotner Pvstic: It's the bunk. Fatuer Pustic: What's the bunk? Evoer Brotner Pustic: War's the bunk. Fatner Punic (bitingly) : 1 guess you know better than the men at Washington, don’t you? Exper Brotner Pustic (/anguidly): I guess I do about war. I was in one. Farner Pustic: You've lost your patriotism since you came out. Exoer Brotuer Puatic (still languidly): Oh, T dunno! I can afford to be patriotic. I'm over the draft age now. Youncer Brotuer Puntic: Well, I guess we could knock off those foreigners if we got a chance, There’s plenty left could show ’em something if they're lookin’ for trouble. Sister Pustic (sighing): The boys used to look so dashing in their uniforms. Faturr Pustic: I'm glad there’s some patriotism left in this family. Some one’s got to put those foreigners in The Old Crab: youNG Laby, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO TAUGHT their places or where will we all be? I'd tell 'em if I YOU TO DRIVE. was in Washington. “Take it, or leave it,” I'd say to 'em, She: THE TRAFFIC CoPs, comicbooks.com