Life, 1914-04-02 · page 4 of 68
Life — April 2, 1914 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a small figure with a shield confronting a large, charging elephant kicking up dust. The caption reads: "HOLD ON, THERE! YOU NEEDN'T TAKE LIFE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO!" This appears to be a satirical commentary on Life magazine itself. The figure represents the magazine's editors or publishers, while the elephant likely symbolizes a powerful force or competitor threatening the publication. The joke plays on the magazine's name—the small defender is literally telling the elephant not to "take LIFE" (both the publication and the concept). Below, the text "It's Really Laughable" and "Just a Word" explain the magazine is departing from its usual editorial approach to produce a humorous special issue, staking its reputation on making this the wittiest issue ever published. The bottom section includes subscription information and a related cartoon about advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Copr. Life Pub. Co. mess Mia tS “HOLD ON, THERE! YOU NEEDN’T TAKE LIFE IF YOU DON’T WANT To!” It’s Really Laughable Enclosed find One Dole? Just a Word (Canadias 6 $1.20). i About the great Humorous Number coming on April 14. for three months to We are going to depart from our usual rule and ‘ tell something about it. We realize that in issu- ing this number our reputation is at stake. Therefore we are sparing no pains to make it the most exquisitely humorous, the most laughable, the maddest, mer- riest, wittiest issue that has ever sprung from our Minerva-like Dresses: Ste your doctor about reading this num- We « Gi , ‘ Open. only to new. subscribers; no sub- ber, Remember that are not iscumamee three months! subserip- ription renewed at this rate. ~ j il ible scrip joy may kill. premonsible “Say, young feller, where do you LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York 41 pon. opposite. think you are?” ; \ Fill it in if you “Lm in the advertising page of One Year $5.00. (Canadian $5.52, Foreign $6.04) wish, but don't Game Lirecisn't that vighth? ee us for the consequences.