Life, 1918-02-21 · page 12 of 40
Life — February 21, 1918 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page announces a **title-writing contest** for a picture of an airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers while two figures below appear to be reacting with alarm or surprise. The image shows dramatic action—a plane banking sharply with smoke trailing. The contest offers $500, $200, and $100 prizes for the best brief titles (max 25 words). Notably, there are **special bonus prizes for soldiers and sailors**, reflecting this is from the WWI era when military service was significant. Below the contest are unrelated satirical poems mocking inspectors and officials. The contest itself appears designed to engage readers in humorous creative writing about the chaotic aviation scene depicted.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
292 Life’s Title Contest For the best title to the picture on this page Lire will award prizes as follows: $500.00 $200.00 $100.00 First Prize, . . Second Prize, . Third Prize, . With Special Prizes for Soldiers and Sailors The contest will be governed by the following CONDITIONS Contestants are advised to read these con: ditions carefully, and to conform to them exactly. Lire cannot undertake to enter into correspondence or to reply to inquiries. By “best” is understood that title which most cleverly and briefly de- scribes the situation shown in the pic- ture. No title submitted shall consist of more than twenty-five words. Hyphen- ated words will be counted as one. The contest is open to everybody. In case a prize is won by a Soldier or Sailor $100.00 extra will be added to the first prize, $30.00 extra to the sec- ond and $25.00-extra to the third. By the term Soldier and Sailor is meant anyone, no matter what the rank, in the uniformed 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 Lire will be the sole judges. But a liberal interpretation will be placed on the conditions. The contest is now open. It will close at noon on May 6, 1918, no manu- scripts received after that time being considered. All manuscripts should he addressed to the Contest Editor of Lire, 17 West Thirty-first’ Street, New York. En- velopes addressed in any other way will not be considered. Envelopes must contain nothing but the competing title and the name and address of the send- er, plainly written, all on the same sheet. If you have anything else to y to Lire, send it in a separate letter. ditors will not be responsible for < é | 3 t : , | > Ja Fy Fg : 2 For the Best Title to this Picture $800 will be given in Prizes See conditions on this page the loss of manuscripts. Contestants Hooveropsis are advised to keep duplicate copies. AO jive that when inspectors come to No manuscripts will be returned, see Titles’ may'sbe original or may be ‘vie noavd of fool whichiihey, believe a quotation from some well-known lies hid ss author, but in this ease the source musty, : sterious iuitiy sack ie accurately gavel n that mysterious room which each § 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 con- testant. The final award will be announced as early as possible after the close of the contest. Of this due notice will be given. Checks will be sent simultane- ously with the announcements of the award, The earlier you send your title the better. In previous contests many ar- rived too late, must ope To government inspection soon or late, Thou go not like the trembling criminal, Caught with the goods; but, su and soothed By an unfaltering trust, fling wide the door, Like one who's helped his country to ined conserve,— A patriot with nothing to conceal. mund J, Kiefer. > goose-step has become a shuffle, T*