Life, 1917-12-13 · page 4 of 40
Life — December 13, 1917 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **subscription solicitation for Life magazine**, not a political cartoon. The central image shows a cherub or baby figure holding a sign reading "Life is coming to you for with Christmas Greetings from," functioning as a Christmas-themed advertisement encouraging readers to subscribe. The accompanying text ("Why Not?") argues that during wartime (context suggests WWI era), Americans should subscribe to Life as a gift or for themselves. The pitch emphasizes Life's value as essential reading during consequential national events, and appeals to patriotism—suggesting that supporting the magazine means supporting American interests and morale. This is essentially a **Christmas gift-subscription campaign** using sentimental imagery and patriotic rhetoric rather than political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
T this particular period in the history of the forld, and at this particular season of the year, all conscientions Americans are carefully considering hott they can best spend their money. Many Americans habe never had so much money before. Many habe neber had so little. But on the whole, while war shifts money into different chan- nels, the main course of busi- ness is in greater Goliume than eber. We must take care of the fuar demands, fue must feed and clothe ourselges, fe must look after our local charities, and fue nmst read Life. And ta read Life as it ought to be read, it must be deligered into pour of home ebery foeek dur- ing the coming fifty-two. Toda this you should become a regular subscriber. But still more: you should send Life to others asa Christmas gifi, and those others include: First, one or more of our boys at the front, Second, some friend or friends. Say, for example, that there are ten million people in this country fulo do this, aberaging, hesides their ofvn subscriptions, three others. Wife's cireula- tion during the next feta frecks fould then be increased by four million copies a feck. To he honest, tue Subscription Rates CIAL OFFER Three Months, adian, $1.135 Foreign, $1.26. (New names only, no renewals at this rate.) Yearly, $5; Canadian, $5. Foreign, $6.04. Single copies Ten Cents. Why Not? do not expect this. Ue are con- serbatioe. If a million people, say, are added to our subscription list during the next fueek or so, by means of this eloquent adbertise- ment, fue shall be fairly fuell satis- fied. At least it fill be a good To Live, 17 West Thirty-first Street, Enclosed find .. Lire during the coming year, beginnii start tofuards the coming year. Of course, the more flo subscribe, the hetter Life till be---assuming that such a thing is possible. Not it is quite usual {ith publishers to mmounce their program for the coming year, and to inform their prospectige readers {ult store of good things may be ex- pected; to brandish fell knofn names, and in short, to lure the coy reader by alluring phrases. We camot do this, because, to he frank, fve habe no program. That is the beauty of this allur- ing paper. The paper con- timually surprises. Ie ex- pect, int a general fuay, to get out a lot of special munbers. Air. Gibson fill drafr exelu- sively for Life his fronderfulfwar cartoons---if {oar continues. Ar. Martin till torite the editorials. Others, too modest to name, fill be inspired to do their best. But what ve pro- pose to do, more than fue habe eher done before, perhaps, is to drafty mt the fhole country. And fue hereby inbite ebery Awmerican fuho has any talent, or possibly genius, to send us his best. For the best that any American can do is none too good for the American people at their best---and they are at their best fhen they obey their impulse. ollars, for which please send ith issue dated to the list whose names and addresses accompany this letter. Name