Life, 1919-06-12 · page 4 of 46
Life — June 12, 1919 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a domestic scene satirizing class attitudes toward popular magazines. An elegantly dressed gentleman (likely representing upper-class sensibilities) dismisses *Life* magazine as suitable only for children, preferring "the Gloom Number" instead—a probable reference to a more serious, intellectual publication. His companion defends *Life*, arguing that beneath its humor lies genuine human sentiment and value. The satire targets snobbish attitudes toward popular entertainment: the implication that serious literature is inherently superior while humor and accessible writing are intellectually inferior. The accompanying text announces an upcoming "Kiddies' Number," clarifying that *Life* deliberately combines lighthearted content with social commentary, defending humor as a legitimate vehicle for truth-telling rather than mere frivolity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Papa, how will he feel about next week’s Lire? You know it’s all about us Kids.’” “He’ll like it.” “He ought to like the Gloom Number better.”” “My boy, you don’t understand him. He is really a delightful man. Underneath his dignity he isa human being. He has sentiment, humor and cheerfulness. He has to have. That’s why he reads Lire every week.” Somebody wanted us to say of the next number that Lire was not kidding anybody, but was just getting out a Kidc Number. We shall not say it. That is a low form of humor. To be common in your expression of certain truths is too easy. For example, there is nothing common about children, yet they are quite common everywhere. The next issue of this occasionally humorous paper will show many of Lire’s children at play. Open only to new subscribers; 10 scriptions renewed at this rate. sub ¢ , 4 LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York. 9S Several sample copies will be sent to # any address on receipt of ten cents. 7’ One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6.04.) comicbooks.com