The Funnies - Prima Facie Evidence (1914)

Prima Facie Evidence

"Did you hear about the terrible fright Bobby got on the day of his wedding?"

"No, but I was at the church and saw her."

Life Magazine, March 1914

The Funnies - Forgiveness (1914)

"Now, Ethel, Harold says he's sorry he broke your doll, so I want you to forgive him."

"I'd feel more like forgivin' him, Mother, if I could swat him one first."

Life Magazine, October 22, 1914

The Funnies - Fighting the Flames (1914)

Fighting the Flames

Life Magazine, October 22, 1914

The Funnies - Advice (1914)

Life Magazine, October 15, 1914

The Funnies: New Dance Steps (1914)

"Yes, I find there's nothing like a motor for giving me ideas for new dance steps."

Life Magazine, December 31, 1914

The Funnies - Trial by Peer (1914)

If the average trust magnate were tried by a jury of his peers

Life Magazine, October 15, 1914

The Funnies - Heaven (1914)

"Before you come in you might just leave your parcel with the rest of the rubbish."

Life Magazine, March 1914

The Funnies - Garden Pest (1914)

Come here! Quick! There's a stegosaurus scratching up the garden!

Life Magazine, March 1914

The Funnies - Dressing Windows (1914)

The Funnies - Dance Practice (1914)

Dauber, who is a little out of practice, receives an invitation to dance/

Life Magazine, March 1914

The Funnies - The Opportunist (1914)

The Opportunist: By the way, sir, I wish to marry your daughter.

Life Magazine, February 1914

The Funnies - The Brotherhood of Man (1914)

Total Stranger: Pardon me, sir, if I take the liberty of removing that blonde hair from your shoulder. I was once caused considerable annoyance by just such a trifle.

Life Magazine, October 1, 1914

The Funnies - Handy John (1914)

"You may be weak on literature, John, but when it comes to Christmas shopping you're a wonder."

Life Magazine, December 3, 1914

The Funnies - Coals to Newcastle (1914)

Coals to Newcastle

Life Magazine, December 3, 1914

I think this cartoon deserves a bit of an explainer. The saying "coals to Newcastle" means doing something foolish or embarking on an enterprise that's believed to be doomed to failure. The saying took a turn in the 1900's (possibly near the time of this cartoon's printing) when Timothy Dexter was convinced by fellow entrepreneurs who were secretly plotting to ruin him, that he should sail a shipment of coal to Newcastle, England, the historic center of British coal production. Dexter scored a victory when his shipment just happened to land in the middle of a British miner's strike.

So, it's possible to read our beautiful young subject hardly needs mistletoe, and at the same time she's guaranteed it'll work on whatever suitor she's got in mind!

The Funnies - Christmas Him (1914)

A Christmas Him

Life Magazine, December 3, 1914

The Funnies - All the Little Santas (1914)

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and the Little Santa Clauses

Life Magazine, December 3, 1914

The Funnies - Labor Saving Device (1914)

Constable Pratt's Labor-Saving Device

Life Magazine, July 4, 1914

Much is made of H. G. Welles' and Jules Verne's predictions of the future, but how about Life Magazine foreseeing the stop-strip?

WWI - The Price of Neutrality (1915)

British Lion: "Please don't look at me like that, Sam. YOU'RE not the eagle I'm up against."

I had a little time to turn my attention back to the Great War this morning, fortunate since I had a cartoon that is exactly 100 years old today! As of this day 100 years ago, the US was still a neutral party to the growing European conflict. Woodrow Wilson had sent out an appeal to the US people on August 17, 1914 to be "impartial in thought as well as action", a plea meant to stave off attacks from pro-war pundits within the country while he tried to beat back British encroachments against neutral trade with their enemies, Germany and Austria-Hungary. Understandably, his efforts were less than acceptable and in December of 1914 he was forced to give up the effort to use the 1909 Treaty of London as a guarantee of safety for American merchant ships and fall back on much more ambiguous international law.

On February 4, 1915 the German government announced that it would begin a submarine campaign against the allies overwhelming naval power and that, because submarine commanders would find it hard to differentiate neutral ships from those of the allies, no vessel would be safe from being torpedoed within the war zone. This move prompted a warning that Berlin would be held accountable for any US losses from Wilson, but it was vague and Washington wasn't really sure how it would handle any transgressions.

The political cartoon from the January 6, 1915 issue of Punch depicts the British Lion giving Sam the Eagle an assurance that the British rejection of US neutrality shouldn't be taken personally. It's a bit paternalistic in tone, if you ask me, but it's coming from London's perspective in a time when Empire was a real thing. The cartoonist, John Bernard Partridge, was the London born nephew of John Partridge, portrait painter to Queen Victoria. Partridge started his career as an architect before beginning a career as an illustrator. He came to Punch in 1910, replacing the magazine's chief cartoonist. The year this cartoon ran, Partridge also was designing war posters including his famous Take Up the Sword of Justice .

In 1925 Partridge was knighted. He died at the age of 84 in August of 1945.

Singing for Thanksgiving Dinner - Beets and Turnips Foxtrot (1914)

Another great ragtime era cover, the Beets and Turnips Foxtrot, this one is 100 years old this year. So, happy birthday, Beets and Turnips!

The Funnies Bonus: Economies (1914)

Economies

Life Magazine, December 31, 1914

Something to consider when going to the polls this election day.