Life — December 26, 1930 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine Page Analysis This is an editorial essay titled "Happy New Year!" by E.S. Martin, illustrated with a woodcut of what appears to be a rat or similar creature looking upward against a starry night sky. The piece is a **reflective New Year's commentary on 1930**, discussing the year's disappointments—the stock market crash, unemployment, and general uncertainty—while acknowledging that life has always contained hardship and danger. Martin argues that rather than blame 1930 entirely, society should recognize ongoing problems in business, politics, and religion that demand thought and reform. The essay encourages readers not to despair but to engage in serious consideration of contemporary issues, suggesting that difficulty can spark useful public discourse about governance, marriage law, and social regulation.