Life, 1917-01-11 · page 4 of 38
Life — January 11, 1917 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily an **advertisement/contest announcement** rather than political satire. Life magazine is promoting "Our Own Private Criticism Contest," inviting readers to submit 25-word answers explaining why they should or shouldn't become regular subscribers. The illustration shows a **tug-of-war scene with cherubic figures**, which humorously represents the "contest" concept—the visual metaphor of competition and pulling/persuasion aligns with Life's pitch to convince readers to subscribe. The contest offers prizes: 100 Life blotters (first prize), a miniature Life edition (second), or guaranteed subscription benefits (third). The tone is self-aware and tongue-in-cheek—Life essentially asks readers to convince themselves why the magazine is worthwhile. The 1917 date and subscription rates ($5 yearly) provide historical context for this vintage promotional piece.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Our Own Private Criticism Contest One Hundred Life Blotters ia as a Prize. Contest open to all, even to non-subscribers. Read conditions below. Our Offer: To anyone sending a good answer, limited to twenty-five words, telling why you should, or should not, become a regular yearly subscriber by paying the regular subscription rate, Lire will present the following prizes: First Prize: One hundred Lire blotters, for home and office use. Second Prize: A copy of the last edition of Miniature Lire. This is a pocket size of Lire, printed in colors, full of pictures and humor. Third Prize: There isn’t any. After meditating about the matter, we believe that the sum of human happiness will be reached for any human being when he has a package of Lire blotters, a copy of the Miniature Lire, or is on the road to become a regular subscriber. Conditions : You do not have to be a regular subscriber to compete, but we would rather have you. If you are one, then we know that you are unusually intelligent. You can be married or single, and any age or weight. / It is not necessary for you to have a sense of humor. If you (Special haven't, Lire will develop it for you in fifty-two weeks. ‘ All answers, whether accompanied or not by the usual sub- nea Gen tt scription (see coupon), must be in this office before midnight of fg hOE hCS any evening during 1917. Seni Obey That Impulse P. S—If you | ever heard of Lire, send for a package of sample copies, together with ten cents. Sometimes it is an amusing paper. . Open only to new subscribers; no sub y, scriptions renewed at this rate. f LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York n L One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6.04.)