Life, 1915-01-21 · page 4 of 44
Life — January 21, 1915 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes subscription decisions for *Life* magazine itself. The top caricature depicts a scholarly graduate figure representing "Life" magazine personified as neutral and indifferent to competition—a tongue-in-cheek self-advertisement. The main text humorously addresses when readers should subscribe, acknowledging practical concerns: holiday rush, cost (offering a three-month trial for one dollar), and whether to buy individually or via newsstand. The tone is deliberately self-aware and sardonic about subscription timing. The bottom cartoon shows animals at "The Fifth Avenue Canine Club" debating a subscription cancellation, with one character threatening to cancel if dogs are "put on the same level" as humans in upcoming content—a joke about editorial standards and anthropomorphization in the magazine. Overall, this is *Life* magazine's humorous advertisement for itself.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
What they ought lo say— “1 feel very much like Life. I’m neutral. 1 don’t care which ally wins.”’ "THERE are many opinions as to which is the best time to subscribe to Lire. Some say December. Some say in summer. Some say in January, immediately after the holidays, when you are not so rushed and need to be intellec- | tually stimulated. Some say they can afford to send only a dollar for a three months’ trial subscription (see coupon). Some say they'd rather get it off their minds for a year. Some would rather buy it from their | newsdealers every Tuesday. Some don’t buy (a) it at all, but rely upon their friends to tell them what's in it. As for ourselves, we don’t know how to advise you. Just when we have asked you to subscribe, the next number may be poor. Don’t always obey that impulse. Think it over. Special | Offer \ Handsome premium picture in colors, ae ag “WHERE LOVE IS,” given with Jar (Canadian $4.13, Foreign each yearly subscription. 4 $1.26). Send Live / for three months to AT THE FIFTH AVENUE CANINE CLUB es pats this? Cat and Dog Num- i 0 | becribe be t of Lire coming February 2d?” Ps PEE metre cubacriberss (no ul “That settles it. If they are. going scription renewed at this rate. to put cats on the same level with us, I'll cancel my subscription.” LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York B One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6.04. ) CO