Life — April 19, 1900 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon titled "In the Twentieth Century" depicting a street scene where a pedestrian has been hit by a bicyclist. The humor lies in the policeman's absurd response: rather than addressing the bicyclist's reckless behavior, he demands the pedestrian show a permit for simply walking. The satire mocks the early 20th-century trend toward over-regulation and bureaucratic absurdity. As automobiles and bicycles proliferated, cities were imposing various permits and regulations on transportation. The cartoon exaggerates this regulatory impulse to ridiculous extremes—suggesting that even pedestrians might eventually need permits to exist in public spaces. The crowded urban street filled with vehicles emphasizes how technology was transforming city life, often prioritizing mechanical transport over human beings on foot.