Life, 1922-08-17 · page 35 of 36
Life — August 17, 1922 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **subscription advertisement** for *Life* magazine, using humor to encourage readers to subscribe. The cartoon depicts a humorous confrontation: a "Hard-Boiled Yegg" (criminal/mugger) demands "Your money or your life!" from a "Kindly Old Lifer" (experienced person). Rather than comply fearfully, the older man cleverly deflects by suggesting the mugger use a dollar for a trial *Life* magazine subscription instead. The satire works on two levels: it jokes about aggressive sales tactics (the mugging metaphor) while simultaneously employing that same aggressive pitch itself—the ad copy literally tells readers they "can't resist" the coupon offer and commands "Kick in! Obey that impulse." The page promotes special upcoming issues (American-Russian Number, Sunday Edition, Theatrical Number) available through this discounted subscription offer. The smaller subscription coupon appears on the right side of the page. Essentially, *Life* is humorously acknowledging—and mimicking—high-pressure sales techniques.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Hard-Boiled Yegg: Your money or your Life! Kindly Old Lifer: Dear old chap, don’t be absurd! My wallet is in my hip pocket, and I suggest that you use a dollar for a trial subscrip- tion, as the coupon says in the corner of the page. Do It Now! Ten copies of LIFE at a newsstand would cost you $1.50. Therefore, the innocent-looking coupon across the street is worth 50 cents to you —if you use it, and can you resist using it, knowing that included in this . 7 Pina dollar special offer are bill, check. or money order (Cana- The American-Russian Number, Aug. 31 dian, $1.20; Foreign, a $1.40) to this coupon and The Sunday Edition (B's), Sept. 7 J mail it to-day to The Theatrical Number - Oct. 5 LIFE, 598 Madison Avenue, N. Y. Or if you like send $5.00 for a yecr and seven other unusual numbers? Canadian, $5.80; Foreign, $6.60). Kick in! Obey that impulse. comicbooks.com