Life, 1918-02-07 · page 10 of 40
Life — February 7, 1918 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page announces a title-writing contest for a cover illustration visible elsewhere in the issue. The contest offers $500 for first prize, with smaller amounts for second and third place, plus special bonuses for soldiers and sailors. The accompanying sketch shows soldiers in a trench during World War I, with one soldier writing home. The caption reads: "DEAR ETHEL: Your first pair of mittens are a great success. They are a constant source of delight in the trenches, and I wear them even as I write." The joke appears to contrast domestic comfort (homemade mittens) with the brutal reality of trench warfare. It's gentle humor about soldiers maintaining morale through small gestures from home—a common satirical theme during WWI when Life frequently addressed wartime experiences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE: Life’s Title Contest (See picture on the cover of this issue) For the best title to the picture on the cover of this issue, Lire will award prizes as follows: First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize, $500.00 $200.00 $100.00 With Special Prizes for Soldiers and Sailors The contest will be governed by the following CONDITION Contestants are advised to read these conditions carefully, and to conform to them exactly. Lirr cannot undertake to enter into cor: respondence or to reply to inquiries. By “best” is understood that title which most cleverly and briefly describes the situation shown in the picture. No title submitted shall consist of more than twenty-five words. Hyphenated words will be counted as one. The contest is open to everybody. won by a Soldier or Sailor $100.00 extra will be added In case a prize is to the first prize, $30.00 extra to the second and $23.00 extra to the third. meant anyone, no matter what the rank, in the uniformed By the term Soldier and Sailor is forces of the United States government. In case of any dispute as to the status of a winning contestant under these terms the Editors of L liberal interpretation will be placed on the conditions. £ will be the sole judges, But a The contest is now open. It will close at noon on May 6, 1918, no manuscripts received on that date after that hour being considered. All manuscripts should be addressed to the Contest Editor of Lire, 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York. Envelopes addressed in any other way will not be con- sidered. Envelopes must contain nothing but the competing title and the name and address of the sender. plainly writ- ten, all on the same sheet. If you have anything else to say to Lire, send it in a separate letter. not be responsible for the loss of manuscripts. Contestants No manuscripts will The Editors will are advised to keep duplicate copies. be returned. Titles may be original or may be a quotation from some well-known author, but in this case the source must be accurately given. It is not necessary to be a subscriber to Lire to be a contestant. In case of ties the full amount of the prize will be given to each tying contestant. The final award will be announced as early as possible aiter the close of the contest. Of this due notice will be given. Checks will be sent simultaneously with the an- nouncements of the award. The carlicr you send your title the better. contests many arrived too late. In previous “Dear Etnen: success, Your first pair of mittens are a great They are a constant source of delight in the trenches, and I wear them even as I write.”