Judge — December 10, 1921 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This single-panel cartoon satirizes early automobile safety concerns. A farmer named Si Smith, having lost livestock (apparently to a hit-and-run incident involving a valuable animal), has responded by literally installing tail lights on his remaining cattle as a warning device to drivers. The joke operates on multiple levels: it mocks both reckless drivers who endanger farm animals and the farmer's impractical solution. The image shows a rural homestead with a cow equipped with what appears to be a lantern or light fixture, illustrating the absurd literal interpretation of vehicle safety practices applied to livestock. This reflects a specific moment when automobiles were new and conflicts between motorists and rural life were frequent and contentious.