Life, 1919-02-06 · page 4 of 38
Life — February 6, 1919 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The cartoon depicts four men at a formal dinner. One stands, raising his hand to make an announcement: "My friends, I have an announcement to make. The Heroes' Number of LIFE is coming in three weeks." This is **self-promotional satire** by the magazine itself. The scene mocks formal announcements of major events—the standing figure's dramatic gesture parodies important proclamations. By treating an upcoming special magazine issue as momentous news worthy of a solemn dinner announcement, Life ridicules both its own self-importance and the tendency of publications to oversell special editions. The humor relies on inflated expectations: a special magazine issue presented with the gravity of a significant historical or political announcement. This was likely timely advertising for an upcoming "Heroes' Number" special edition.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ My friends, I have an announcement to make. The Heroes’ Number of Lire is coming in three weeks.” The Early Spring Numbers of this occasionally interesting paper are now in process of preparation. In addition to the Heroes’ Number (Feb. 27th) The Bone Dry and Bolsheviki Numbers are coming. | The Most Satisfactory Investment for January Funds ee | ar’s subscription to Lit Whether for or some soldier or sailor, it is money well spent. The Army of Occupation overseas will number half a million men, and every man likes Open only to new subscribers; + Lire. subscriptions renewed at this rat To American Expeditionary Force men. $5 a j ioe ¥ 7 year, if no local foreign address be given. LIFE, 17 West ist Street, New York. 7 7’ One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6.04.) 4 comicbooks.com