Life, 1922-07-20 · page 24 of 36
Life — July 20, 1922 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life (circa 1922) contains a title-naming contest and satirical commentary on American publishing and pretension. **The Maxfield Parrish Picture Contest**: Life invites readers to submit titles for an illustrated artwork, offering $500, $200, and $100 prizes. The rules emphasize brevity and originality. **"It Can't Be Done"**: A satirical article mocking an overly ambitious publisher advertising a 64-volume encyclopedia claiming to answer all children's questions "clearly and concisely." The joke: a man with a five-year-old child laughs bitterly at this impossible promise, recognizing the absurdity of such comprehensive, simple answers to the endless "why?" questions children ask. **"No Blue Laws Nor Blue Blood"**: A brief, darker joke about Mayflower descendants and American class pretension. The reference to "Blue Laws" (Puritan moral restrictions) suggests ironic commentary on the hypocrisy of America's "founding families" claiming moral superiority. Both pieces satirize American overconfidence in commercial solutions and inherited social status.
📄 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 OR the best title to the Maxfield Parrish picture above, Lire will award prizes as follows: $500.00 $200.00 - $100.00 First Prize Second Prize .... Third Prize : The Contest will be governed by the following ConpITIONS: (Contestants are advised to read these conditions care- fully, 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 describes the picture above. The contest is now open and open to everybody, and will close at this office at noon on Tuesday, August Ist, 1922. Titles will be judged by three members of Lire’s Edi- torial Staff, and their decision will be final. Titles may be original, or may be a quotation from some well-known author, and should not exceed twenty words each. Contestants may send in more than one title, but not more than ten to a sheet. Should we have duplicates of any of the winning an- swers, the full amount of the prize will be given each tying contestant. The final award will be announced as carly as possible after the close of the contest (allowing for completion of the final reading). Checks will be sent simultaneously with the announcement of the award. All titles should be addressed to Lire’s Picture Title Contest, 598 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y. En velopes should contain nothing but the competing titles, typewritten or very plainly written, using one side of paper only, with the name and address of the sender on each sheet. The members of Lire’s staff will not compete. It Can’t Be Done HE man with the weary look sat at his desk sorting the morning mail. One envelope marked “Impor- tant” bore the imprint of a publishing house. He hesi- tated between opening it and dropping it in the waste- basket. Curiosity won. The publishers wanted to know if there were any children in his family; if so, would he not please return them the enclosed postcard, and receive a booklet con- taining sample pages from sixty-four volumes, which would help him educate his children and answer all their questions in a clear and concise manner? Down the margin of the letter ran many questions: Why does the worm turn? What makes the moon beam? Does a bee's sting hurt it? and so on to the number of a score or more. Harsh laughter broke from the man with the weary look. He had a five-year-old youngster. They advertised to answer all a child's questions clearly and concisely in sixty-four volumes. “It can't be done,” he murmured wearily. No Blue Laws Nor Blue Blood Ir all the people that came over in the Mayflower had come over in the Mayflower, the Mayflower would have sunk, T wish she had... . D t AC iy What shall the owner do to redeem it? comicbooks.com