Life, 1914-05-28 · page 11 of 44
Life — May 28, 1914 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration (credited to Cesare Soban) depicts a street scene with a skeletal figure in the center—appearing to represent Death or a plague personification—surrounded by well-dressed pedestrians who seem oblivious or indifferent to this macabre presence. The caption notes the picture has no title, and below it Life announces a $500 contest for readers to propose one in twenty words or less. This appears to be satirizing public apathy toward a significant social danger—likely disease, mortality, or urban decay—that persists amid everyday life while citizens go about their business unconcerned. The contest invitation makes the satire participatory, inviting readers to name the unnamed threat. The page also includes unrelated poetry and humorous quotes sections ("Insight," "The Dansant").
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
(This picture has no title.) 9 For the Best Title to this Picture in Twenty Words r Less LIFE Will Pay $500 Conditions of The title, with sub-title, or in whatever form submitted, must not exceed twenty words. The paper upon which the title is sent should contain nothing but the title, with the name and address of the author in the upper left- hand corner. Manuscripts dressed to The Contest Editor of Lire, 17 West 31st Street, New York. should be ad- Envelopes addressed in any other way will not be considered. All titles submitted must be at Lire office not later than Thurs- day, July 2, 1914. The contest will close at noon of that date. Within two weeks from July 4, a check for $500 will be sent to the winner. the Contest Announcement of winner will be made in Lrre’s issue of July 30. It is not necessary to be a sub- scriber to Lire in order to com- pete. Only one title from each con- testant will be considered. No manuscript will be returned. The editors of Lire will be the judges. They will award the prize to the title which, in their judgment is the most deserving and will debar any contribution not conforming to these condi- tions. The classification of the titles will be supervised and cer- tified by Messrs. Lybrand, Ross Bros. & Montgomery, certified public accountants. The sooner you get your answer in the better. In previous contests many have arrived too late. 963 Insight SOMETIMES at night, when the eternal script Is written once again upon the scroll, I read the inner meaning of your soul, And, desolate and lost, and wonder- lipped, I fare to regions where Life’s words are stripped Of ancient mystery; where dawn may roll Up the imperial highway, and control What hearts have gained in Nature's silent crypt. Oh, then I know! In that hushed hour I find Lost echoes; and with many a breath- less cry, I mount to ultimate ramparts of the sky, And to the hidden bastions of the mind. . . . O Love, in such an hour be not unkind, For in it you are You, and I—am I.* *T wish that T could tell you what this strange pocm doth mean; But I can't, because I found it in a monthly magazine. Charles Hanson Towne. A’ least the Mexican nightmare has brought the railroad men an interval of relief from L. D. Brandeis and his terrible twin spectres, Efficiency and Economy. The Dansant “LEMON, please, and not too sweet "— “Colored wigs amuse me so"— “Castle-walking rests the feet"— “Isn't she a holy show?” “Paul Poiret designed her hat” “Yes, they're getting a divorce! “Lovely face, but sucit a cat “Skirts like that, I think, are coarse!” “Natives dance it in Peru"— “Waiter! check, please! I must fly!” . “Jobbers! But what can one do?” “ Nothing’s cheap these days. Good- bye!” Roger Lamson, Jr. comicbooks.com