Judge — December 18, 1920 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cover, December 18, 1920 This cover depicts an adult man and child examining a large decorative pitcher or jug filled with what appears to be plants or flowers. The caption "About Eleven Miles to a Gallon" suggests a satirical comparison between the pitcher's capacity and automobile fuel efficiency. The likely satire concerns early 1920s automobiles, which achieved poor gas mileage by modern standards. The humor appears to derive from presenting household objects' capacity in fuel-efficiency terms—the jug holds about as much as a car travels on one gallon of gasoline. The phrase "Give a Thought to the Kids" in the header suggests commentary on wasteful consumption or resource use affecting future generations, a common Progressive-era concern.