Judge — July 3, 1920 — page 36: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a single-panel cartoon depicting two men in a racing car on a rough road. One driver wears a hat and goggles; the passenger sits beside him. The caption reads: "Yes, that way is a good deal shorter, but it's a pretty rough road." The driver responds: "That doesn't worry me; I've got Kelly-Springfield tires on." This is a **product advertisement disguised as humor**. The joke hinges on the implied superiority of Kelly-Springfield brand tires, which supposedly make rough road conditions irrelevant. The cartoon suggests these tires are so durable and reliable that taking a shorter, rougher route becomes practical—a common advertising strategy of promoting product quality through comic scenarios rather than direct claims.