Life, 1909-04-08 · page 30 of 32
Life — April 8, 1909 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a promotional page for Life magazine's upcoming "Jungle Number," using colonial-era attitudes toward Africa as its hook. The giraffe illustration and anthropomorphized animal dialogue ("Hello Jungle! That you Mr. Lion?") present Africa as an exotic, amusing spectacle for American readers. The satire targets Life's own editorial strategy: the magazine boasts its artists have been "beating up East Africa" for months to capture "Local Color," meaning they're fashioning African content for entertainment value rather than serious journalism. The animal characters speaking broken English reflect period attitudes treating non-Western subjects as quaint curiosities. The page also advertises upcoming themed issues (Woman's Number, Health Number, College Number, Matrimonial Number), each with facetious descriptions mocking their target audiences—particularly the Woman's Number's opening: "There is no brain to sex," revealing the magazine's casual sexism. Overall, this reflects early-20th-century American publishing: packaging distant cultures as amusing diversions while reinforcing stereotypes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HELLO Connect me with the Jungle, please—Hello Jungle! you Mr. Lion? Yes. and all the little ones? Never mind. you don’t, cheer up! Sure! Brace up. Get a copy of the next number of LIFE AFRICA ! That How’s all the family? How’s Mrs. Lion What’s that? Oh, yes,—he’s coming. You may live through it. If before the bugle blows for the happy land above. NEXT WEEK—32 PAGES JUNGLE NUMBER OF LIFE Have you rambled in the Zoo? and the handsome hippopot? thing new—Remember the Jungle Number is the real thing. now for months getting Local Color. A fine line of lions—splendid assortment of giraffes—something new in monkeys. It’s good luck to meet one in Life. Rhinoceros fountain.”’ with the next number. Did you ever subscribe to Life? It’s a habit no one wants to break AFTER THE JUNGLE NUMBER THERE ARE: April 22. The Woman’s Number. (Colored cover by Clay) There is no brain to sex. You will be convinced of this great fact when you see this number. No one but women contributors, introduced by Mr. Martin, in his great Bone poem. April 29. Health Number. (Colored cover by Kilvert) Are you able to sit up and take notice? If you are, see that this number of Life is placed within eyesight. It will cure you of anything that you don't want. Better than a course in New Thought. No gloom here. Full of frivolity, with dashes of deep wisdom on the side >, Other numbers are: Summer Gadding, Flirts’ Book, July 4th, Spooks. M1 you are a subscriber to Live you ‘malas woe ol these. goed Os Vez 6 We may be haypy yet, you bett things. Price tn the United States and American Possessions, $5.00; Canada. $5.52; abroud, $5.08, Have you seen the zebras trot? It’s distinctly up to you just supposing you have not, to prepare for some- Did you ever see a roebuck ? Have you watched the kangaroo, Our artists have been beating up East Africa “Meet me at the Specialties only May 20. College Number. (Colored cover by Clay) Rah! Rah! Rah! Also, Siss! Boom! Ah! and otber things too numerous to mention, including a gallery of charming girls and an educated man. (Did you ever see one? they are rare.) This number is devoted to learning, but not the kind of learning that makes you tired. On the contrary, as the man at sea said when someone asked him if he had breakfasted. June 24. Matrimonial Number (Colored cover by Crisp) Husbands, attention! Who is your bo you willing to learn the fatal truth? Be sur mething good to know, It wouldn't appear in Life if it wasn't. Don't fail to get this number. It will help you run your household. Pitt tteteetterrtet rere Order of issue subject to change. WATCH THIS PAGE FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS comicbooks.com