Life — January 31, 1918 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Most Astonishing Contest" - Life Magazine This page announces a contest for Life magazine readers. The central visual gimmick involves a cover image (shown next week) depicting a man and woman on a flying machine in an ambiguous pose—the text notes it "rather looks" like he's kissing her, but challenges readers to create their own caption explaining what's happening. The contest offers $500 to the winner and $800 in total prizes. It emphasizes that Life's contests are "genuine"—no subscription required, just conforming to stated conditions. The page borders feature illustrated figures in period athletic/casual wear, serving as decorative elements typical of early 20th-century magazine design. This represents Life's tradition of reader engagement through humor and competition.