Judge — March 29, 1924 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two satirical cartoons about automobile culture in early 20th-century America. The **top cartoon**, "The toreador crosses Fifth Avenue," depicts a motorcyclist navigating through heavy automobile traffic on Fifth Avenue (New York's prestigious shopping district). The "toreador" comparison—referencing a bullfighter—satirizes the dangerous skill required to drive motorcycles through crowded streets, treating traffic navigation like a daring performance. The **bottom cartoon** mocks a wealthy man who purchased a famous inn for his private residence. The sign advertises the inn's amenities (chicken dinners, gambling). His desperate policy appears to be posting fake warning signs ("DANGER," "NO LONGER A ROAD-HOUSE") to discourage visitors and preserve his privacy—suggesting the satirical point that converting a public gathering place into a private home creates awkward social tensions and failed attempts to reclaim former commercial appeal.