Life, 1916-09-14 · page 17 of 38
Life — September 14, 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a **contest announcement** and two satirical pieces. The top section announces a $500 contest for readers to title two photographs: a young child with a toy and a woman on a ship's rigging. The contest rules are straightforward. Below is an essay titled "Stairs" that humorously characterizes gender differences: women are detail-oriented housekeepers who notice threads and crumbs, while men are single-minded about reaching their destination and largely indifferent to household order. It's gentle domestic satire reflecting early 20th-century gender stereotypes. The cartoon titled "The Salute" depicts a military officer surrounded by sailors saluting him reluctantly. The caption reads "BUT THEY HAVE TO. IT'S COMPULSORY." The accompanying text mocks representative government as a "scandal" because it "is really representative"—implying the public doesn't genuinely support its leaders but must perform allegiance anyway. It's political satire criticizing forced civic obedience.
📄 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- hining 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 tite and the name and address of com- petitors, plainly Written. on the same sheet. Stairs ‘OU can tell quite largely what a woman is by the way she goes up stairs. If she stops and picks up a thread here and there you will know at once that she is a housekeeper. When a man goes up stairs he thinks only of getting to the end of his journey. If one of the children has left a teddy bear or a rag doll on one of the steps, as likely as not the man will stumble over If he does stumble over it he may poke it to one side. Or he may pick it up and carry it along. Fathers do the best they can. They often have a mind to keep things in order, but they are not looking for threads on the stairs. The eye of a genuine housekeeper is a special thing in nature. It is mi- croscopic and universal. It has the same quality as the eye of the great kingfisher, who looks down upon the surface of the waters and detects his prey. The housekeeper’s eye is like that. Crumbs, threads and dust— For the best single title (in twenty words or less) that fits both these pictures LIFE will par $500. Manuscripts should be addressed to The Coutest Editor of Larr, 17 West 31st Street, New York. Envelopes addressed in any other way will not be considered. All titles submitted must be at Lirr’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 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. be these are its prey. And when a woman walks up stairs she shows whether she is a housekeeper or not Ii the winning answer is duplicated, the prize will also be duplicated. No manuscript will he returnec The editors of Lire will be the judges. They will award the prize to the title whi in their judgment, is the most deserving, and will debar any contribution not conforming to. these conditions. The carlicr you the better. In pri arrived too late. get title in ious contests many your HE scandal of representative gov- ernment in our country is the fact that it is really representative. THE SALUTE BUT THEY HAVE TO, IT's COMPULSORY comicbooks.com