Life, 1915-05-13 · page 20 of 52
Life — May 13, 1915 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is Life magazine's contest featuring humorous picture captions about World War I. The illustration shows a man and woman examining magazines together, with the winning response playing on ambiguous logic: when she asks "Are you going to volunteer?" he replies "If yes, no. If no, yes"—a paradoxical non-answer that won $500. Other entries satirize war's grim realities: one submits simply "Dead," another depicts a woman who won't love a man unless he dies for his country. The $10 prize entries mock military-industrial profiteering, suggest trying war leaders for murder, and question God's perspective on nations praying for victory while killing each other. The satire reflects American public debate over World War I (then ongoing), targeting both romantic nationalism and the economic interests driving the conflict.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ALTER YE ~ What Has Just Been Said? The Winning Answers in Life’s Picture Contest She: He: If yes, no. Are you going to volunteer? If no, yes. The above answer, sent in by Wa. P. Quinny, 724 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, Pa., is awarded the first prize of $500. The second prize of $200 is awarded to B. H. Turnrvtt, Corporation Court, Norfolk, Va., for the answer: “Dead.” The third prize of $100 is awarded to Evelyn Williams, 1508 Grace Street, Lynchburg, Va., for the answer: She (dreamily): 1 could never really love a man who hadn’t died for his country. The seven ten-dollar prizes are awarded to these persons for the answers that follow their names and without regard to their comparative merit: C. G. Linnea, 4555 Kingswell Avenue, Los Angeles, Cal.: For God, for their king and for their country. For Krupp, for du Pont and for the copper in- dustry. Mrs. C. R. Heatt, 1873 Roblyn Avenue, Merriam Park, Minn: Sue: What lesson will every country learn from this awful war? He: The high cost of hating. Geo, W. Daneny, 2576 Briggs Avenue, New York City: Tom: Isn't a live man more interesting than a dead one? Dorotuy: Not always. Joseruine N, Matites, 16 Broad Stree!, Nashua, N. H.: He: Won't you follow the example of Przemysl? Wa. H. Gatargatu, South Fork, Colo. : Sue: These war lords should be tried for murder by a jury composed of widows and sweethearts of slain soldiers, Davip Reicucott, 52 Dickerman Street, New Haven, Conn.: “Ethel, it seems you're like some kinds of insurance; I'd have to die to get you.” C. B. Grrex, 424 Railway Exchange Bldg., Portland, Ore.: With civilized nations at each other's throats, all praying for victory, what must be God’s frame of mind?