Life — January 1, 1903 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains literary reviews, poetry, and satirical commentary rather than political cartoons. **"New Year Resolutions"** by A. Portly Hogg presents mock resolutions about borrowing money, giving alms, bearing neighbors' suffering, and living "along the lines of least resistance"—satirizing how people make insincere New Year's promises they won't keep. **"Uncle Samuel" illustration** depicts a law-enforcement scene with the caption warning that the location is "not a refuge for offenders against universal law and order"—likely commentary on immigration or criminal justice. **"The Dying Calendar"** is a melancholic poem about the year's end, reflecting on time's passage and life's recurring themes of "Love Frustrated—Love in Triumph." The page emphasizes literary and social satire rather than political cartooning, typical of *Life*'s early editorial approach.