Life, 1909-01-07 · page 22 of 60
Life — January 7, 1909 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a cartoon and a magazine contest announcement. **The Cartoon**: Titled "Glad He's Alive," it shows a man lying in grass, apparently homeless or destitute, expressing gratitude simply for being alive. His quote—"Funny! When I come out this mornin' I hadn't a durn thing to be thankful for,—an' now look at me!"—is darkly humorous satire on poverty and lowered expectations. The joke appears to mock both the desperation of the poor and the irony that survival itself becomes cause for celebration when circumstances are dire. **The Contest**: Life magazine announces a humor competition asking readers to identify "the Worst Novel of the Past Year" and explain why, offering monetary prizes ($100, $50, $25). This reflects Life's satirical mission—inviting public participation in literary criticism through comic critique. The specific rules and February 15 deadline suggest this was a recurring feature. Together, the page demonstrates Life's dual focus: editorial cartooning about social conditions and reader engagement through contests.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CLAD HE'S ALIVE “FUNNY! WHEN 1 COME OUT THIS MORNIN’ I HADN'T A DURN THING TO BE THANKFUL FOR,—AN’ NOW LOOK AT ME! "* What is the Worst Novel of the Past Year? And Why? Three Prizes, $100, $50, $25. 'O the contributor who sends in the ao. best answer to these questions, eh Lire will give One Hundred Dollars. To the contributor who sends in the second best answer, Lire will give Fifty Dollars. To the contributor who sends in the third best answer, Lire will give Twenty Dollars. conpitioys. All manuscripts must be addressed to the Editor of Lire, 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York, and must be marked “ Worst Novel Contest. No contribution must exceed five hundred words in length. The shorter the better. The name and address of the contributor must be writ- ten plainly on each manuscript. Lire does not hold itself responsible for the loss or non- return of contributions, but where a stamped and addressed return envelope is inclosed, rejected manuscripts will be returned. Zach contestant may send in as many contributions as he or she desires. The contest will close on February fifteenth, no manu- scripts received after noon of that day being considered. The contest will be decided by the Editors of Lirr. comicbooks.com