Life — December 29, 1927 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Travel Contest Explanation This is a **reader participation contest** from Life magazine, not a political cartoon. The page invites readers to find geographical and factual errors in a letter from "Kay," who describes a cross-country trip visiting major American cities. The contest's appeal lies in **checking Kay's travel narrative for mistakes**—whether she correctly identified landmarks, cities, geographic features, or historical facts. Readers who spot all errors correctly could win weekly prizes ($75) or grand prizes up to $400. This reflects early 20th-century magazine culture, when such interactive contests engaged readers and built loyalty. The detailed map of US cities shows the geographic knowledge assumed of educated readers at the time.