Judge — April 10, 1920 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation for Modern Readers This cartoon satirizes a man named Henry Wilson for using profanity while changing a car tire. The woman (likely his wife) scolds him, noting it's ironic that he's cursing despite owning a Kelly-Springfield tire—implying these were reliable, quality tires that shouldn't cause frustration. The joke relies on early 20th-century social attitudes: gentlemen weren't supposed to swear in front of ladies, yet automotive maintenance apparently tested even respectable men's composure. The cartoon advertises Kelly-Springfield tires indirectly by suggesting their reliability should prevent such outbursts. This reflects both period gender norms (women as moral arbiters) and the novelty of automobiles as temperament-testing machines for the average driver.