Life, 1916-11-02 · page 43 of 46
Life — November 2, 1916 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **magazine advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It promotes *Vanity Fair*, an American satirical periodical modeled on British publications like *The Tatler*. The central illustration depicts a stylized, fashionable woman in an elegant gown—representing the magazine's target audience of sophisticated, urbane readers. The advertisement uses **social shaming as its sales pitch**: readers who aren't keeping up with current trends risk becoming "old fogey," "old maid," or "old bore." Subscribing to *Vanity Fair* promises to make one witty and socially accomplished ("the life of the party"). The "**Dollar Diplomacy**" section cleverly positions the $1 six-month subscription as an economical alternative to theatre tickets or novels—offering more entertainment value while signaling cultural sophistication to one's peers. The satire here targets middle-class anxiety about appearing outdated or provincial during this period of rapid social change.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Vanity Fair Makes A Special Offer By using the coupon opposite you can try out Vanity Fair at very small expense—One Dollar for six months; and money need not be paid until you have received your first number. Vanity Fair is to America what The Tatler and Sketch are to England; a mirror of life, original and picturesque; informal, personal, intimate, frivolous; but with a point of view at once wholesome, stimulating, d refreshing. Every Issue of Vanity Fair Contains: THE STAGE: Pirst-night and behind-the-scenes views of the newest playss—with portraits, THE OPERA AND MUSIC: Stories and vortraits of new singers, composers, conductors, THE ARTS: Mlustrated news and criticisms of pictures, archi- tecture, books and séulpture, HUMOR: the most original and amusing worksofour best young writers and artists PEOPLE: Striking portraits of celebrities who make New York ‘a fascinating merry-go-round. SPORTS: An illustrated pan- orama of golf, tennis, football, racing, polo and other sports. ESSAYS AND REVIEWS: By a group of intellectually stimu- lating essayists and critics. PARIS AND LONDON: The latest and most diverting news from the European Capitals, DANCING: Outdoor dances, in- door dances, rhythmic dances, FASHIONS: From Paris, Lon- don and New York for ail dis- criminating men and women, DOGS AND MOTORS: Photo- graphs of the best-bred dogsand the best-built motors, with de- scriptions and discussions. SHOPPING: An Index to the best shops—what they sell; and ‘a shopping offer that is bound to interest alert men and women. Don’t be a Provincial! If you are out of step with the whirling progress of our time; if you are removed from its mag- netic influences; if, despite your youth, you are becoming an old fogey, or an old maid, or an old bachelor, or an old bore; then you must read Vanity Fair, and presto! you will be nimble-witted again—the life of the party—the little ray of sunshine in the gloom of the grill-room. Six months of Vanity Fair will enable you to ignite a dinner, party at fifty yards Vanity Fair is the most successful and widely discussed of all the new period- icals. It isa magazine devoted solely to the cheerful and entertaining sides of contemporary Americanlife—to itsarts, theatres, sports, dances, operas, fash- ions and gaieties. Read Vanity Fair,and you have something new and fascinat- ing to say on every topic ofthe moment. Try a Little Dollar Diplomacy! You think nothing—in your poor de- luded way—of paying $2.00 for a thea- tre ticket or $1.35 for a new novel, but you can secure for a single dollar (half the cost of a single theatre ticket, and less than the cost of a single novel) an entire Winter of Vanity Fair and with it a good deal more entertainment than you can derive from dozens of sex plays or a shelf-full of problem novels. Stop where you are! Tear off that coupon! comicbooks.com