Life, 1919-08-28 · page 4 of 40
Life — August 28, 1919 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical cartoon about magazine subscription practices. A well-dressed man (representing a magazine editor or publisher) sits at his desk speaking to a cherub-like figure labeled "LIFE" (the magazine's personification). The joke plays on the editor's candid admission: he recognizes LIFE as "one of our more or less distinguished profiteers" and plans to get out "a number about you pretty soon, just to—" before awkwardly stopping himself. The implication is that the magazine cynically plans to feature itself to boost subscriptions and profits, rather than for genuine editorial merit. Below, text encourages readers to subscribe, reinforcing the satirical point about LIFE's self-promotional tactics. The cartoon mocks publishing industry opportunism and the blurred line between editorial content and advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Good morning, Lire. I am—” “Yes. I know you, sir. One of our more or less distinguished protiteers. I’m going to get out a number about you pretty soon, just to—” “But—” “Good morning, sir.” Some of the great special numbers coming have not yet been scheduled, but due announcement will be made later. Meanwhile, autumn is now upon us, and if you are not already a regular subscriber, why not obey that impulse? To Keep Yourself in Touch with the latest ideas and current thought, pesd SLAVE 179 xe Csubscr Pilon: land 1366 Open only to new subscribers; 9 * for yourself. Or if you do not know the ariptlons fenced ot tle rate paper several sample copies will be sent : i to any address for ten cents or sixpence. LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York. ! One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6! comicbooks.