Life — April 10, 1913 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine Rebus Puzzle (page 716) This page is primarily an **advertisement for Life magazine itself**, presented as a contest/puzzle offer. The illustration shows four figures in costume: an ornately-dressed Oriental figure holding a mirror, a military officer in plumed helmet, small fantastical creatures, and an elderly woman. These form a **rebus puzzle**—a visual riddle where images represent words or phrases that readers must decipher. The text promises a three-month Life subscription (for one dollar) to anyone solving the rebus correctly. It emphasizes the offer's legitimacy ("This is no joke. We really mean it") and includes an alternative offer for those who don't solve it. This was a common promotional strategy for magazines, using puzzles and prizes to attract new subscribers. The specific meaning of the visual rebus is unclear without additional context or solution.