Judge — June 1, 1918 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Land-Locked Mariner Again" This cartoon depicts Captain Henry of the *Duty Mermaid* from Dorset, Vermont, driving a 40-horsepower automobile with elliptical wheels. The satire plays on the tension between old and new transportation: a sea captain—traditionally associated with ocean voyages—is now operating a land-based motorcar. The pack of dogs chasing the vehicle reinforces the comedy: despite the car's supposed smooth, ship-like motion from its special wheels, it still provokes the traditional response reserved for any vehicle on rural roads. The joke targets early automobile culture and the absurdity of applying nautical concepts (smooth sailing motion) to landlocked contraptions, while highlighting rural Vermont's unfamiliarity with modern vehicles.