Life, 1901-12-26 · page 7 of 33
Life — December 26, 1901 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 553: Building the Life Magazine Headquarters This page celebrates the completion of Life magazine's new building. The text describes financial hardship during construction—workers went unpaid for a year during economic difficulty, but the project ultimately succeeded through perseverance. **Key figures shown:** - **Wilson de Meza**: sculptor who created the bronze statue at the building's entrance - **F. P. W. Bellew**: likely an artist/contributor The decorative illustrations include sketches of figures and cartoons unrelated to the main narrative, typical of Life's satirical style. The diagram at the top depicting planetary orbits appears to reference Life's intellectual ambitions or influence. The overall message celebrates the magazine's resilience and the contributions of its creative team during challenging economic times.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
553 of the otber planets, cspe- olally of Jupiter, Mars and Venus—a certain cheerful- ness and radiant health— warrants the belief that copies of Live must reach those far-away districts, It may be, however, that some of our leading astronomers are correct in ascribing this gladness to tho inevitable radiation of Lire’s wit and wisdom from his own planet, But all that, of course, {s speculative, Let us return to facts, Wo bad bardly bought the lant and fairly started on our new building when the bard times camo along. It wasa golden oppor- tunity for worry if we had cared to soize it. But by going with- out food and clothing for a year or so, Lire weathered tho storm, When tho building was nearly completed tho plasterers struck. And they struck just long enough to cost us about twenty thou- sand dollars, These plasterers confessed they had no grievance, They were prosperous and happy. They merely struck because they were told to strike, But finally, in May, we moved in, Soon afterwards the bronze statue was given us by our contributors, and we have been happy ever since, Some Fellow-Workers. If proper credit were given to the writers and artists who have played such an important part in our success, a volume would be written, and much yet romain unsald, To tho readers of Lire, each man’s work is his own best record. Some of our strongest WILSON DE MEZA. figure over tho main entrance of our building, done by the camo sculptor. The surprise was cortainly complete. Mr. Metcalfe, \ + Be We BELLEW as spokesman for those assembled, presented the statue In a fow | words, and very pleasant words they were for Lire to hear. They bore good wishes and the expression on the part of our contribu- tors of that affection and confldence which Lire, in his turn, has always felt toward the donors of tbat more than welcome gift. Tho bronze boy himself, a figuro of exceptional beauty and artistic value, has, ever sinco that day, held the place of honor in our temple, The Anchorage. The completion of this new temple was a memorable achlove- mont. It seemed only flt, that with advancing yoars, Lire should occupy A monument moro in harmony with bis measureless influ- ence. The word “ measureless” is used advisedly, We might have said + world-wide,” but the expressioa would have con- vayed @ narrower meaning. For who believes that Lire’s influ- ence is confined to this particular ball? Something in the aspect comicbooks.com