Life, 1909-08-26 · page 27 of 28
Life — August 26, 1909 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a subscription solicitation rather than a political cartoon. The single illustration—a cheerful baby or cherub holding a pear—serves as a charming visual hook for the advertisement's humorous tone. The ad employs playful psychology to encourage subscriptions, addressing the reader's procrastination ("Did you ever say that to yourself—and then forget it"). It lists eight reasons to subscribe, mixing genuine appeals (the magazine provides social commentary, literary content, and intellectual stimulation) with tongue-in-cheek arguments (that missing an issue is a "calamity"; that unnecessary luxuries matter more than necessities). The final section reassures potential new subscribers that their past non-subscription won't be held against them, using the biblical metaphor of the "ninety and nine" to position new subscribers as valued additions. The $1 offer for three months (roughly 12 issues) was notably cheap for 1910s-era magazine publishing, targeting cost-conscious readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Obey That Impulse “T must subscribe to this paper” Did you ever say that to yourself— and then forget it— until the next time ? Now there are several Y Reasons “2g ‘Nhy you should subscribe To LIFE First: Because it’s interesting. Second: Because you don't always agree with it. This, by the way, is very important. Third: Because you learn from it certain things that you cannot learn in any other way. These are not dull, unimaginative, severely intellectual things. Bat they are none the less important. They concern matters of taste, beauty, literary form, Because it gives you a side light on American manners and events, in a way that you any other medium. An entire situation (political, social, literary) is conveyed in a single flash. why you remember more things that you have seen in LIFE, in the past, than in any other period: Phey are highly focused. Fifth: To save yourself the annoyance, when some friend asks you if you saw “ that awfully good thing in LIFE” of being obliged to confess that you “ missed that number.”” Sixth: Because, as you journey through this world, you need to surroand yourself with as many cheerful in- fluences as possible. You need it, not alone for yourself, but because you ought to make yourself as en- durable as possible to others. you ever do your best work when you were glum? LIFE is more than an intellectual asset. It's a real stimulus to the best work. Seventh: Because, if you don’t subscribe regularly, you may miss an occasional number. Why lay yourself open to a calamity like this ? Eighth: Because, at the present moment. it doesn’t seem to be really necessary. This is the most important reason of all. | The necessary things you will have todo. ‘The unnecessary things are always the most im portant. They lie within the zone of your own personal freedom, and according as you bring yourself to do them will you rise above the human average. ‘ If—after reading these reasons—you conclude to subscribe, do not permit yourself slightest feeling of embarrassment because you have not hitherto done so. We shall say nothing about it. We shall keep the affair absolutely confidential. It will just be between us. Your past will not be We shall welcome you as held up against you. if you had always been. We already have the ninety and nine, we want YOU Remit one dollar to Life Publishing Company, 17 West 31st Street, New York. It will bring LIFE to you every week for three months and will cost you Only One Dollar. (Canadian $1.13. Foreign $1.26.) The conditions of this SPECIAL OFFER are: It is open only to new subscribers. The subscription must come to us direct; not through an agent or dealer. No subscriptions will be renewed at this rate. Five Dollars a Year For Sale Everywhere Ten Cents a Copy The Best Artists The Best Writers comicbooks.com