Life, 1909-03-11 · page 35 of 36
Life — March 11, 1909 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **magazine subscription advertisement**, not a political cartoon. The small illustration at top shows a man dusting poultry for insect pests—a practical farming task meant to exemplify the magazine's useful content. The ad targets **wealthy suburban commuters** who maintained country estates. It emphasizes that *Suburban Life* magazine offers practical advice on gardens, automobiles, poultry, and outdoor recreation—positioning country living as aspirational yet manageable with proper guidance. The pitch exploits class anxiety: the magazine is "necessary to the commuter as a railroad ticket" and will "save him many dollars a year." The offer—six issues for one dollar (with two free)—uses the appeal of a bargain to overcome hesitation. The satirical edge is mild: the phrase "Maybe you're from Missouri" (suggesting skepticism) and the guarantee "If you repent your bargain, let us know why and we'll send your money back" gently mock suburban pretension while reassuring readers of value. The overall tone reflects early 20th-century anxiety about leisure, consumption, and maintaining social status.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
hal Reading this 5 i give youa may save 5 - ‘ » {A lot of fun, you $$$—and P | besides ! Frei "Se Rich folks with country places need SUBURBAN LIFE every month, so they will know when they’re getting what they want—most everybody else wants the magazine to be sure of getting all the fun going out of real living. This good magazine is for all who enjoy green fields and running brooks—and want practical help in everyday living and the joy and inspiration of outdoors. People who like flowers and gardens and automobiles and good sports are pretty likely to read SUBURBAN LIFE with a great deal of enjoyment. It’s as necessary to the commuter as a railroad ticket, because it will save him many dollars a year inside and outside his home ; lucky people who live and work and play in the country find it almost indispen- sable; for those restrained in the city it’s like a week-end vacation. (Off-hand, we can't think of anyone who won’t get his money’s worth in SUBURBAN LIFE.) __So that you, too, may get to know SUBURBAN LIFE, we’ll send six issues for the price of four—$1.50 value for only a dollar—you thus get Two 25c Issues Free Maybe you're from Missouri—well, here’s what you get : since/ the day,” The Spring Building number The Winter Suggestions number \nnual Planting number Little Helps number SUBURBAN LIFE Suburban Home number Annual Vacation number { “ Suburban Life is the 44 EAST 23d STREET NEW YORK In every issue the ‘* Pass Them Along” department is worth ten times the price of the magazine—‘*The Month’s Work” tells what to do around the grounds—the Automobile, Stock, Poultry and Pet LIFE from March to June inclusive, departments are up-to-date and always truthful. Fy with February and January FREE I herewith hand you a dollar, so that you will send me SUBURBAN SUBURBAN LIFE’S pages are 11 x 14, the type is large and clear, the illustrations are as fine as cameras and brains can do. N. B.—If you repent your bargain, let us know why and we’ll send your money back.