Life, 1916-08-24 · page 17 of 42
Life — August 24, 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a $500 contest offering a prize for the best single title (under 20 words) describing both photographs shown. The **top left image** shows a dog in silhouette—likely meant to represent a wealthy person's pet or companion. The **top right image** depicts what appears to be a working-class figure beneath industrial machinery, suggesting labor or poverty. The **bottom cartoon** satirizes photography and social class: a photographer suggests to a "Colonel" that they photograph only "head and shoulders" rather than the full figure—implying the Colonel's lower body or shabby clothing should be hidden from view. This mocks how the wealthy use photography to present false, flattering images while concealing unflattering realities. The broader theme appears to critique class inequality and social pretense in early 20th-century America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Conditions of the Contest The title, with sub-title, in prose or verse or in whatever form submitted, must not exceed twenty words. By “best” is meant that title which, com- bining wit, humor and originality, is applicable ‘not only to each picture, but to both. No quotations will be considered. Envelopes must con- tain nothing but the competing title and the name and address of com- petitors, plainly written on the same sheet. For the best single title (in twenty words or less) that fits both these pictures LIFE will pay $500. Manuscripts should be addressed to The Contest Editor of Lire, 17 West 31st Street, New York. Envelopes addressed in any other way will not be considered. All titles submitted must be at Lire's office not later than Monday, October 2, 1916. The contest will close at noon of that date. Within two weeks from October 2 a check for $500 will be sent to the winner. Announcement of winner will be made in Lire’s issue of November 2. It is not necessary to be a subscriber to Lire in order to compete. The con- test is open to everyone. If the winning answer is duplicated, the prize will also be duplicated. 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 carlier you get your answer in the better. In previous contests many arrived too late. To an Unbom Child EAR Young Friend: We are taking the liberty of dropping you a line, to caution you against certain fami into which you might unwittingly introduce yourself. Remember, it is highly im- Portant just where you are born, Avoid New York if possible; a miscalculation of a few streets would cause you untold trouble all of your mundane life; you might cither have to spend your early years in sewing on buttons in a horrid place sanctioned by the authori- ties, called a sweatshop, or you might become the son of a millionaire and develop a case of ennui from which you would never recover. Even if you are born out in the country you are not safe; you are liable at any moment to be picked up by a canning factory or a cotton mill. Before being born, we suggest that you subscribe to some of our papers and periodicals. By reading them closely you will learn much to your possible disadvantage, in case you happen to be born wrong; you will learn what families to avoid, It is possible, however, that, after looking over the field in advance in this manner, you will decide not to be born at all. With an intelligent person like yourself we can easily conceive the possibility of such a decision. In which case we beg leave to offer our congratulations in advance. Photographer: ER—DON'T YOU THINK PERIAPS WE'D BETTER MAKE IT JUST A HEAD AND SHOULDERS, COLONEL? R® ASON is the frost in the Garden of Dreams. > comicbooks.com