Life, 1913-01-02 · page 15 of 44
Life — January 2, 1913 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is not a cartoon but a celebratory poem by Arthur Guiterman, apparently written for *Life* magazine's birthday (the publication, not a person). The poem personifies *Life* as a theatrical character—specifically invoking **Phryne** (an ancient Greek courtesan), **Harlequin** (commedia dell'arte trickster), and **Punchinello** (stock comedic fool). Guiterman's satire targets philosophical pessimism of the era (referenced in "Is Life worth living?") by championing *Life* magazine itself as the antidote: irreverent, artistic, witty, and unafraid to provoke disagreement. He praises the publication's contributors—artists, poets, editors, and readers—while gently mocking the magazine's tendency toward mischievous provocation ("your quips arouse my wrath"). The elaborate decorative border reinforces this as a special celebration. It's fundamentally an in-house toast celebrating the magazine's identity as sophisticated humor and social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SSELTLF SIF IF LS LTT ISIS FGFFFSAGSTIFEFFIBFITIGIFBIVISS3 PAWNTSS ELT IECSHDUITEDTOSLAL ELIOT ETE LES TESTE SCI SIS SSS ETOCS ST A Birthday Toast to Life OXE more bright candle decks your festal cake, For Capricornus now the solar sign is; Your age, unless the almanacs mistake, Is rising thirty,—slightly less than mine is; And still, dear Life, with Pleasure in your wake, In airy costume very much like Phryne’s You dance along to make each day a mirth-day.— Let all the Planets celebrate your birthday! And as with jest and song you dance along While Fate (as Dobson hath it), plays the 'cello, To you the years shall come as friends that throng With kindly gifts, and Time but make you mellow. Still shall you lay the lash on sullen Wrong, But laugh at Folly’s freaks like Punchinello, Your joyous, unrefuted answer giving To pessimists who groan, “Is Life worth living?” Gay Harlequin with trenchant sword of lath, Free Imp of Jest whose bauble lightly shaken Beguiles the wise to leave the beaten path, Long may your merriment our world awaken! Though oft, I own, your quips arouse my wrath (Which means that frequently you're much mistaken), Yet, on the whole, ’tis well at times to be with A friend whom one can strongly disagree with. Besides, I like your artists—(worthy crew! They well deserve a gracious word in season). And I must say I like your rhymers, too (For otherwise I might be hanged for treason). I like your verbal cobblers who renew Worn jokes; I like your editors,—in reason; I like the folks who write to spank or pat you; Then, Prosit! Life; Waes hael! Here's looking at you! Arthur Guiterman, comicbooks.com