Life, 1913-10-16 · page 4 of 44
Life — October 16, 1913 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **subscription advertisement** rather than political satire. The main cartoon depicts two figures in Hell or a fiery underworld setting. One asks the other: "Say, Old Fellow, Has That Near-Humorous Number of Life Come Out Yet?" The joke plays on **Life magazine's self-promotion**—even in Hell, subscribers anxiously await their copies. The "Near-Humorous Number" is a self-deprecating reference, suggesting the magazine acknowledged its humor could be hit-or-miss. The advertisement section below announces upcoming subscription options and "coming" issues including an "Army Number," "Navy Number," "Near-Humorous Number," and "Dancing Number." The satire is gentle and meta: it's Life joking about its own comedic reliability while encouraging subscriptions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
YW werner pou ite “ Say, Old Fellow, Has’ That Near-Humorous Number of Life Come Out Yet?” Not Yet But it’s coming. We had to give up finally all idea of a Humorous Number. It’s beyond us. The Near-Humorous Number ig the best we can do. It will be excruciatingly serious. Coming! Coming > Note: ARMY "NUMBER : This coupon is our compromise NAVY, NUMBER with the Business Department NEAR-HUMOROUS NUMBER DANCING NUMBER gone cut out along this dotted line.s=senBy the bye, you Life, come to me one year ,or, only three months, as financially indicated ~ This is the Financial Indication . ,, , Send Five’ Dollars for One Year “~ (Canadian $5.52. © Foreign $6.04.) "~ i { q ‘This includes our handsome premium picture “Veterans,” printed in colors on heavy paper 21x 16 inches, ready for framing. : , :\ SPECIAL OFFER, 5 | Send One Dollar for Three Months’ Subscription t ' (Canadian $1.13. Foreign $1.26.) t P' (Open only to new namés.: No renewals at this rate.) whos © St STY> E> P2QI0G oncy Leta! * Fee om syam'azry Uy sfupyp psaz"2 stp yo Bu0 ‘uodno>