Life, 1914-06-18 · page 25 of 44
Life — June 18, 1914 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page announces a $500 contest for the best caption to an untitled cartoon. The cartoon depicts a chaotic street scene with figures in formal dress appearing startled or engaged in some kind of altercation or unusual activity—the image is intentionally "incongruous," as the text notes, to challenge contestants' wit. The page is primarily a **contest announcement** rather than editorial content. It details submission rules (twenty words maximum, deadline July 2, 1914) and emphasizes proper formatting to avoid disqualification. Below are three brief joke items: "Self Preservation" satirizes a railroad president burning books as "safety"; another mocks a teacher asking about Christmas customs, with a student answering "running in debt"—contemporary satire about holiday overspending. The contest format itself reflects *Life*'s role as a humor magazine inviting reader participation and crowdsourced comedy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ap a) Ob Thousands Working Their Wits Five Hunared Dollars to the Person Who Sends in the Best Title to the Picture Below (This picture has no title) 9? For the Best Title to This Picture in Twenty Words or Less Lite Will Pay $500 Thousands of titles have already been received from our friends all over the country and in foreign parts. The answers—when they conform to the conditions—are copied and kept on file for the first reading. Two read- ers, each independent of the other, are reading all the titles, retaining the best ones. From these the final selection will be made. Many an- swers received do not conform to the conditions. Please be careful to do this, as it is embarrassing to debar so many. Yes, the picture is rather incon- gruous. But that was the intention of the artist. Study it carefully before writing out your title. W117 Conditions of the Contest The title, with sub-title, or in what- ever 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 ad- dress of the author in the upper left- hand corner, Manuscripts should be addressed to The Contest Editor of Lire, 17 West jist Street, New York. Envelopes addressed in any other way will not be considered. All titles submitted nuust be at Lire office not later than Thursday, 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, Announcement of winner will be made in Lirr’s issue of July 30. It is not necessary to be a subscriber to Lire in order to compete. Only one title from each contestant 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 conditions. The classification of the titles will be supervised and certi- fied by Messrs. Lybrand, Ross Bros. & Montgomery, certified public ac- countants, The sooner you get your answer in the better, In previous contests many have arrived too late. Self Preservation OVERNMENT INVESTIGA- TOR: What made you burn your books? Raitroap Pxesinent: The motto of our road is “ Safety First". EACHER: Now, Willie, mention one of the customs at Christmas time. Puri: Running in debt. comichooks.c