Life, 1921-05-05 · page 6 of 46
Life — May 5, 1921 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily an **advertisement for Life magazine subscriptions**, not a political cartoon. The illustration shows two women reading together, accompanying a romantic aphorism: "When our sweethearts are our wives, then our wives are our sweethearts." The text promotes upcoming special issues—a "Wives' Number" (May 12) and "Husbands' Number" (May 19)—positioned as must-read publications for readers seeking romantic guidance. The satire is gentle: it gently mocks matrimonial expectations by suggesting that maintaining romance in marriage requires reading Life magazine. The joke targets both hopeful bachelors seeking wives and existing husbands needing marital advice. This reflects early 20th-century Life's positioning as a magazine of sophisticated humor and social commentary aimed at middle-class readers interested in relationships and manners.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
When our sweethearts are our wives, then our wives are our sweethearts. Which means this: that the Wives’ Number of Lire is com- ing next week. Your wife will be in that number, and if you are a poor, miserable but hopeful bachelor, you may be able to find your sweetheart there too. — . 7 Seif This Wives’ Number will be followed by a Husbands’ Num- 71. ind Oae Dol ber, in which (contrary to nature) husbands will have the 77 ae (Canad last word. 7) $tao). Send Liv for three months— Wives’ Number — May 1/2 4 weeks—to Husbands’ Number —May 19 To miss these two coming numbers of LIFE would be a calamity. Obey That Matrimonial Impulse. 3 : ¢ 97 7 Open only to new subscribers; no sul 7 scriptions renewed at this rate. 7 LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York. One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.80; Foreign, $6.60) comicbooks.com