Life, 1915-06-10 · page 7 of 48
Life — June 10, 1915 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains two distinct pieces: **"Looks Like It"** (poem, upper left): A satirical verse mocking ambitious people pursuing success ("a place in the sun"), suggesting their aspirations will end in failure or conflict ("eclipse"). **"The Mirage of Civilization"** (illustration, lower half): Shows a figure in formal dress gesturing toward a crowd of ragged, desperate people on barren ground. The caption—"Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men"—employs bitter irony: the elegant speaker's promise of civilization and peace contrasts starkly with the suffering masses depicted below. This appears to critique empty rhetoric about progress and humanitarian ideals when confronted with actual human misery and inequality. Both pieces reflect early 20th-century skepticism toward grand promises of social advancement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE GRADUATE Looks Like It UNT MARY (visiting in the city): 1 want to hear HEY are striving away for a “place in the sun”, at least one of your famous grand opera singers and But it looks like a sizable job they’ve begun; then see some of your leading actors. And I fear that in spite of their men and their ships, Nepnew (to office boy): Jimmy, get us some tickets Ere they win to the sun there will be an eclipse. for the vaudeville and movies. THE MIRAGE OF CIVILIZATION “PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN” comicbooks.com