Life, 1926-12-09 · page 42 of 45
Life — December 9, 1926 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a Christmas gift subscription advertisement for *Life* magazine, using Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" as its framework. The illustration depicts Scrooge being confronted by the Spirit of Christmas Present (shown as a cherub/angel), referencing the famous novella. The satire operates on two levels: it humorously applies Scrooge's redemption arc to convince miserly readers to subscribe to *Life* as gifts. The text promises that gifting subscriptions will transform the giver from a selfish "Scrooge" into a generous benefactor—it will make Bob Cratchit (Scrooge's underpaid clerk) forget his low salary, restore Tiny Tim's health, and delight nephew Fred with humor. The ad's central joke: *Life* magazine itself becomes the "spirit of Christmas present"—the vehicle for generosity and human connection. By subscribing to send *Life* to others, readers enact their own moral redemption, just as Scrooge does by the novella's end.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“OBEY THAT IMPULSE Mr.SCROOGE/* Ghe Spirit of Christmas Present ERE, Mr. Scrooge, is the chance to eliminate that spiritual dyspepsia that has been bothering you for so long. Here is something that will remove your grouch. It’s off because it’s out! Lire, Mr. Scrooge, will be an ideal stimulant for you—and for all your friends. (I know you haven't any now, but you will have when I get through with you. Lire for a friend, you know, means a friend for LiFe.) Lire will make Bob Cratchit forget the salary you pay him; it will bring the roses back into the cheeks of Tiny Tim; it will supply your jovial nephew, Fred, with innumerable jokes wherewith to regale his pretty wife over the dinner table. Come on, Mr. Scrooge. Sign your name on the little coupon below; sign Bob Cratchit’s name, Tiny Tim's name, Fred's name—every name you can think of. The more, as you have probably heard, the merrier! A copy of Lire’s Curistmas Carp, designed by Charles Dana Gibson, will be sent with each of your gift subscriptions. And when they see your name on that card, Bob and Tiny Tim and the rest will bless you on Christmas Day—and on every day of the New Year Obey Ghat Impulse, eACr. Scrooge! tA : : : a x x a A A i : a ‘ ‘ ‘ lenclose $ for subscriptions Please send LIFE Please send LIFE to LIFE to be sent in my name. for one year to for one year to One Year, $5.00 (Canadian, $5.80; Foreign, $6.60) LIFE, 598 Madison Avenue, New York Ten Weeks, $1.00 (Canadian, $1.20; Foreign, $1.35) USM TURMONAL PRINTING CORPORATION, BROOKLYN, KEW YORK comicbooks.com