Life, 1913-11-13 · page 11 of 40
Life — November 13, 1913 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece critiques *Life* magazine's own reputation. The text argues that while *Life* claims to be "the organ of the discontented," it's actually undeserving of this status compared to genuinely oppositional publications like the *War Cry* and *Outlook*. The cartoon depicts St. Peter at heaven's gates introducing a young man to an assembled crowd, with the young man asking if this is heaven. The satire suggests *Life* is being praised beyond its actual merit—receiving compliments it doesn't deserve. The piece references specific contemporary grievances: discontentment with Republican papers, Congress's military spending (two battleships in a year), and financial specialists' influence. *Life* ironically positions itself as less radical than truly oppositional organs of its era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
St. Peter: awru YOU TO THE COMPANY. Bashful Young Man: HILE duly appreciating the love implied in the Army and Navy Journal's complimentary ‘statement that Lire is the “organ of the discon- tented,” candor requires our hasty assurance that is far from de- served. Alas, Lire is but one of the or- gans of the discontented. There are many, many others, such as the Wer Cry and the Outlook, organs of great numbers who are discontented with it LLY Coop OF You TO comE! An Undeserved Compliment the moral status of the pcople: such as the Wall Street Journal and other finance specialists who are greatly dis- contented with the way things have been going on in their lines: such as the Republican papers whose discon- tent since November, 1912, has hardly known bounds: such as the army and navy papers which are very much dis- contented that Congress has taken to buying but a niggardly two battleships a year These are but a few cate- WALK RIGHT IN AND I'LL INTRODUCE ARE YOU QUITE S—SURE THAT THIS IS H—HEAVEN? gories of the discontent that is uni- versal, for one of the essentials of living creature is that it should be di conten all ethical formulae to the contrary notwithstanding. Any close estimate of Lire’s modesty must be made by others, but this much is cer- tain: to be the organ, par excellence, of the discontented, and thus to mal Lire’s circulation unanimous, is an em- inence to which we have never dared to aspire. comicbooks.com