Life, 1909-10-07 · page 4 of 44
Life — October 7, 1909 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be an editorial/administrative page rather than political satire. The main content titled "Catching Up" addresses the magazine's editorial operations. The text references **Peary and Cook**, early 20th-century Arctic explorers whose competing claims to reaching the North Pole caused public controversy, disrupting Life's planned coverage schedule. The editorial jokes that Rousseau (likely Jean-Jacques Rousseau, referenced philosophically) had the right idea: carefully planning daily activities then ignoring the plan. The page promotes **Life subscriptions**, emphasizing benefits like timely delivery and special numbered issues (Great White Way Number, Thanksgiving issue, etc.). Two small illustrations appear: a child at a desk with papers and books (top left) and what appears to be a seal or similar animal (bottom right), likely decorative rather than thematically significant to the text.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Our next number is a regular. That gives us a breathing space in this one to catch up and do a little explaining. We haven’t been keeping to our schedule. This North Pole number, for example, was to have been some- thing else, but Peary and Cook came along and upset our plans. Besides, we don’t intend to keep to our schedule always. You may know what Rousseau said—his idea of a good time was carefully to plan before hand what he would do every day, and then not do it. There is something in that. There is also something in LIFE these days. Maybe you have noticed it. More to come—and better. Cov Have you seen anywhere any better covers than have been appearing on LIFE week after ers. week? We trow not. Each one is an artistic gem. There’s a long line of them coming. Of course you will be on the lookout. are on the way. Every cartoon in LIFE has a meaning. The more Some Great Carto ons you study it the better it is. That’s a test. Wait till you see our center page of LIFE’S contributors—a few of them—they make a long procession. We are going to spring them on you just as soon as possible ; probably in the issue of Nov. 11—possibly sooner. We had almost forgotten to say that this is the annual subscription Obey that Impulse et ote : = i ihe a season. Any day in the year is good enough to subscribe to LIFE, but from now on to Christmas is the open season for new subscribers: It’s better to be a regular subscriber. You get the paper right on time, and you don’t have to remember to get it. We do all the work, and all you do is to sit back and feel pleasant about it. You can’t afford to have on your mind the responsibility of forgetting to bring LIFE home. sf? ‘ Next week, as we have men- Some of Life’s Specials. toned Wwin be a regular. Then will come the Great White Way Number, the Midnight, Thanks giving, Chorus Girls, Spinsters, Musical, and Christmas Number: This carries us up to the first of the year. The first issue of the New Year will be the Automobile Number. ‘That Improper Number is also coming; don’t forget that. Think of your not being a regular sub- scriber, and in a fit of absentmindedness missing it! Could there be any greater calamity? Better send us five dollars at once with your name and address. P. S.—Do it now. AU REVOIR! “Peary left me a copy of LIFE. The smile still lingers.” comicbooks.com