Life, 1912-10-03 · page 17 of 56
Life — October 3, 1912 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical announcement for Life's examination paper contest offering $350 in prizes. The humor lies in Life's mock-serious claim that the contest has become so distracting it's disrupting American society—colleges can't function, the stock market is neglected, and even the presidential election (between Taft, Wilson, or Sherman) has lost public interest. The satire targets intellectual pretension and the era's obsession with self-improvement contests. The examination questions themselves are deliberately absurd (e.g., "What is the funniest thing in the world?" and "Give a good example of perpetual motion"), mocking earnest philosophical inquiry. A fake cable from "Grocer, Rex et Imp" (playing on royal titles) adds to the joke. The reference to the suffrage movement losing momentum because women are too busy with the contest satirizes both the contest-craze and contemporary dismissal of women's rights activism. The detailed contest rules at page's end further parody bureaucratic seriousness applied to frivolous matters.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
0) aU al ok 1901 The $350 Brain-Rackers R PPORTS to Live's Board of Health indicate a large increase in nervous prostration and kindred diseases in all those parts of the United States inhabited by in- telligent people, where Lire is most generally read The cause is obvious. The desire to share in the $350 prize and to secure a place on Lire’s honor roll as a win- ning competitor has made Lirr’s Examination Paper a tremendously disturbing influence in the life of the Ameri- can people. The questions are of such vital importance that even the coming Presidential election has entirely lost its interest. The people no longer care whether Taft, Wilson or Sher- man is to be the next President. They are only interested in answering Lire’s Examination Paper and preventing the Third Termer from getting permanent possession of the White House. Business on the New York Stock EF pletely neglected. The present dullness in stocks is ex- plained by the that speculators are busy figuri the answers and how to get possession of that change is com- ig out ant seat in his Cabinet. winner of the contest to an impc This telegram has just come in Yare Usiversiry, New Haves, Sept. 22 Lire, New York: Please discontinue Examination Paper contest. College work completely disorganized, as students will work on noth ing but your examination paper. Haptey, President We are sorry to be obliged to refuse President Had- 's request. We have pledged our faith to our readers Yale men will find this a highly edu- and, besides, the cational work. As stated before, the prizes will be $100 for the best set of ten answers and ten of $23 cach for the best indi- ual replies to each question. None of the ten prizes will be awarded to the winner of the $100 prize. Please read and observe very carefully the following CONDITIONS In10x_ Epirox oF City. No answers which reach that address later than noon, Thursday, Oc- 1. All answers must be addressed Coatr Live, 17 West Thirty-first Street, New Yor! $350 in real money. This contest has probably dealt the death | blow to the Suffrage movement. The ladies, Life’s Examination Paper 1. Should a suffragette marry? tober 17th, 1912, will be considered. 3. Write on one side of the paper only 4. Do not write an: thing on the paper ex the answers and your bless ‘em, have become i ; name and address on each so interested that they 2. If Diogenes were searching Amer- sheet. If you have ar are no longer fighting ica for an honest man, where would he in a separate envelope. for Votes for Women. be least likely to find him? $. The total numbe Lire is in receipt of the following cable: Buckincuam Patace, Lonvon, Sept. 18. Live, New York: Will it be allowable for me to cable answers to Live's Examination Paper? Am a sure win- ner. Groxcr, Rex et Ir. Delighted to see roy- alty so usefull ployed, Lire h a reply in the affirmative. It is stated that im- mediately the contest is decided the Nevada Legislature will meet in special session to change the name of Reno to that suggested by the winning answer. It has been privately intimated to Lire that President Wilson will probably appoint the 3. Who invented the hobble skirt and why? 4. A man of marriageable age has suf- ficient income to maintain a wife or an automobile, but not both. Which should he choose and why? 5. What is the funniest thing in the world? 6. Give a good example of perpetual motion. 7. Suggest a better name for Reno, Nev 8. Define common sense. 9. Why is it dangerous to marry a widow? 10. How would you spend a million dollars to do the least possible good? words in all the answers must not exceed two hun- dred. You may divide the two hundred words among the ten answers in any way you pl he deci rest. entirely i cretion of the editors of Lire and will be final. They have but one object in making their decision, and that is to be abso: lutely fair, 7. The contest is open to all readers of Lire, whether they are sub: scribers or not. 8. It is not necessary to answer all the ques- tions, but failure to do so will debar the contestant from any chance for the $100 prize. he announcement of the result will be made at the earliest date which will allow of a thorough examination df the replies. Due notice will be given. 10. This announce- ment will appear only once more—in the next issue of Lrrr All answers sub- mitted become Live's property. comicbooks.com