Life, 1921-06-02 · page 4 of 44
Life — June 2, 1921 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **subscription advertisement** for *Life* magazine, not a political cartoon. The silhouette illustration at top shows people in motion—appearing to run or dance together—paired with the cryptic text "Sh—!" and a warning about next week's issue being "the most terrible, awful, wickedest number of this reprehensible paper ever issued (with one exception)." This appears to be **promotional hyperbole**, teasing readers with mystery about forbidden or scandalous content to come. The "Special Offer" section advertises three-month subscriptions for one dollar to new subscribers, emphasizing urgency as "vacation season is approaching." The cartoon figures (a cherub-like mascot) are decorative elements typical of *Life's* house style. Without knowing the specific date, the exact scandal being teased remains **unclear**, though such language was common promotional rhetoric in early 20th-century satirical magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Tread softly. Next week is coming— Ourcourage fails us—it’s the most terrible, awful, wickedest number of this reprehensible paper ever issued (with one exception). Avoid it—everything in it is Forbidden. It’s the Forbidden Number. NOTICE—The vacation season ts approaching. Where will you have your Lire sent? Remember that the next twelve issues will come to you for only one dollar (see coupon) and that now is the time to obey that impulse. Special Offer Open only to new subscribers; no subscriptions renewed at this rate. Enclosed find One Dollar (Canadian $1.20, Foreign $1.40). Send Lire for three months (twelve issues) to eater After next week’s number - woe ene comes out. LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York One Year, $5.00. (Canadian $5.80; Foreign, $6.60.) comicbooks.com