Life, 1910-06-30 · page 36 of 41
Life — June 30, 1910 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **subscription promotion page**, not a political cartoon. Life magazine is advertising its summer subscription rates ($1.00 for three months) with playful, tongue-in-cheek language. The humor lies in the **self-aware marketing**: Life admits it's "almost ashamed" to ask for subscriptions, then jokingly warns readers that next week's "Big Double Number" will be "wicked and reprehensible" and "shocking"—sarcastically discouraging subscriptions while promoting the issue. The illustration of a figure fleeing a fire (captioned "Will Be Back In Time For") appears to reference *The Wild Oats*, likely a serialized story or feature in the magazine. The four male head illustrations at bottom show different subscription rate tiers. The tone is characteristic of Life's satirical, irreverent house style—mocking both the magazine itself and advertising conventions while actually trying to convert readers into paying subscribers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Will Be Back In Time For WE ARE ALMOST ASHAMED To mention that little matter of your becoming a regular subscriber (in case you are not). If you are afraid to take too many chances send $1.00 NOW and get Life for three months during the Summer months. Canadian, $1.13; Foreign, $1.26. Open only to new subscribers; no subscriptions renewed at this rate. Never before, in the history of literature, has there been so much offered for so little money. We can only afford to do it because we know you will keep it up. ~ Obey that Impulse. Once.a Life reader always an optimist. Subseription, £5. Canadian $52 Foreign $6.06 The Wild Oats Number of LIFE NEXT WEEK’S BIG DOUBLE NUMBER We don’t dare to say just how large this issue will be. A wicked and reprehensible number. If you don’t want it, send us word, and we won't send it to you. This is fair warning. A shocking number. Now is the time not to subscribe. The cover is by Squire, and represents a couple cloping at midnight. The centre page cartoon is by Orson Lowell and is— But ours not to reason why—— Ours but to do and die in the cause if necessary. comicbooks.com