Life, 1925-03-26 · page 13 of 37
Life — March 26, 1925 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features **Prize Question No. 9**: "What is the Worst City in the United States?" The editors invite reader submissions to nominate American cities and explain their choice. The central image is the **Statue of Liberty**, captioned "ME OLD-FASHIONED? CAN Y' IMAGINE?" This appears ironic—Liberty, symbol of American ideals, questions whether she's outdated while the magazine asks readers to criticize American cities. The satire suggests that despite America's founding principles, modern cities have become problematic enough to warrant this critical contest. The Liberty figure's skepticism mirrors the editors' skeptical tone about American urban conditions circa 1925, during the Jazz Age's rapid urbanization and social change. The page also includes essays on democracy's merits, framing the city-criticism contest within broader cultural anxieties about American progress.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
or as you like it. May God be with us in these later days of degenerate de- mocracy with despotism waiting just around the corner. George W. Lyon, 629 Clyde Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mercurial MOCRAC gone, or is going, to blazes (Hear Mencken's alarums! Mencken's dispraises!), \nd I'd come out strong for a change— aristocracy, narehy, anarchy,...even theocracy, Rute by triumvirate, by a consistory, Anything else,—only—history’s history. Kile Crook, 1§ Barnard Street, Hartford, Conn. Read The Tyrannous Majority "THAT depends upon what you mean. If by Democracy you mean the gov- ernment towards which evolution has uys tended, which in the recent revo- ions over the continent of Europe, was cht by all the changing nations, and hich, in varying forms, now exists in It the leading nations of the world, mocracy is a success. If, however, success you mean the attainment of the highest ideal, Democracy is not a ccess, nor is any human institution. One reason why, in that sense, De- cracy is not a success, is that in it e majority tends to oppress the mi- rity, as in Russia and the United States. t even then, Democracy is better than tocracy, Oligarchy and Aristocracy, r in them the minority tends to op- ss the majority, as in Rome in its cline and France just before the Revo- The more Autocracy, the more earth- nger and the more war; democracies cldom fight unless in defense against tocracies. History has been searched for few ects but those upon boundaries. But ¢ probably know enough to prove that Government is to be tested by its pro- on of peace and happiness, Democ- has of all forms been the greatest Henry Holt, gad Si New York City. The Great Illusion D TOCRACY is a success because it satisfies our deepest needs as man beings. We need a periodic opportunity to re- lease the suppressed ideas and feelings we accumulate in the routine course of daily life. Democracy affords us this gular emotional relicf in the orgies of the election season. cess. Prize Question No. 9 WHAT IS THE WORST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES? Answers to this question must be received at this office not later than noon of Aprit 4, 1923. Sce Conditions on page 24. . We need also a scapegoat upon whom to blame our failures and disappoint- nents. We would hardly be able to enjoy life if we had no one else to blame for our troubles but ourselves. Democ- racy furnishes at regular interv a new scapegoat, in the person of a president, & governor, or mayor, or an entire politi cal party upon whom we can lay the too, too heavy burden of our own shortcom- ings. Finally, in order to live at have illusions, It is to our imaginations that democracy makes its richest con- tribution. It offers us the sublime illu- sion that we govern ourselves, Leon Fram, 1227 Independence Blod., Chicago, It, I, we must (More answers will be found on page 24) Liberty: ME OLD-FASHIONED? CAN Y’ IMAGINE? THs week's question gives our read- ers a chance to be really nasty. What is the worst city in the United States? And, of course, why? It should be explained that by “worst” we actually mean “worst.” We want to have an impassioned description (in two hundred or fewer words) of the American metropolis which offers the greatest number of obstacles for the pursuit of life and liberty (no adver- tisement for cither publication in- tended), and the fewest redeeming fea- tures, As we frame this question, we our- selves have absolutely no opinions on the subject. We are not prejudiced for or against New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Union Hill (N. Y.) or any other community. We leave the decision to our readers, Go to it! Air your grievances—and endow your words with all the bitter- your command. But remember one thing: we allow no noms de guerre in this contest; you will have to speak out in your own identity. ness This is the ninth question in this great contest ; the tenth and last will be published next week. An number of contestants have answered every question that has been asked, but the number of new entrants increases cach weck. You should be among them. It is not too late to start even at this late date. Send in your answer NOW to the Question Editor, Lire, $98 Madison York City, Be brief words is the absolute limit enormous Prizes For the best record through- out the Contest: FIRST PRIZE $300 SECOND PRIZE. . .$125 THIRD PRIZE....$ 75 For the best answer to each individual question: WEEKLY PRIZE. ..$50 comicbooks.com