Life, 1902-08-21 · page 5 of 20
Life — August 21, 1902 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon:** The large illustration depicts an absurd automobile contraption designed to achieve "high rate of speed, while reducing to a minimum all risks of damage suits." It's a satirical commentary on reckless driving and litigation culture—suggesting that wealthy drivers (particularly in Newport, a wealthy enclave) built ridiculous vehicles to evade legal responsibility for accidents. **Supporting Items:** - "Newport Items" mocks wealthy socialites (Mr. and Mrs. Gatheran) and their extravagant spending habits - "The Winning Argument" satirizes a food demonstrator unable to impress customers despite claims of superiority - "Defect" critiques governmental leadership vacuums during political crises The page reflects early 20th-century anxieties about automobile safety, wealth inequality, and political stability, presented through biting social humor characteristic of *Life* magazine's satirical tradition.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TUIS SCHEME OP CUOLLY BILLIONS ADMITS OP A MIOM RATE OP SPEED, WHILE REDUCING TO A MINIMUM ALL RISKS OP DAMAGE BUITS. Newport Items. The Winning Argument. JVB AND MRS. GaTH. “[ HAVE here,” says the pare food demonstrator, “a E> WML ERAN SPEND are + perfect imitation of beefsteak.” having a new addition to The audience smiles wearily. their “Cottage.” The cost of the “It looks exactly like beefsteak,”’ urges the demonstrator. new addition is estimated at This fails to arouse any interest. seven inillions: ‘The root ‘sill “Tt tastes exactly like beefsteak,”” he continues. be of gold and the walls of But there is not even a flatter of excitement. jasper. The cellar floor will be “It costs,” remarks the demonstrator, ‘' just twice as of canvas,consisting of old masters from the much as beefsteak.” principal galleries of Europe. It will cost Now theandience surges about him, demanding that he one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine book their orders. _ dollars and thirty-six cents—or thereabouts. For, they argue, it must be excellent if it is so expensive. The Golden Shamms are looking well. They like New- port, Mr. Parvenu Plump is troubled with indigestion, but he has his hair cut every other Friday. On these occasions he gives the barber fifty dollars. Jimmy Highball’s new automobile is a great success, Jimmy says he can smash any team of horses and get away before the survivors make out his initials. Defect. HE sudden illness of Mr. Schwab, with Mr. Morgan abroad, directs attention to a defect in the form of our government. In the absence of the king, a regency is doubtless ade- quate to every necessity, especially during the hot, dull season. But what if something were to happen to the regent? The people of these United States would like to be assured that there is more than one life between them and anarchy. MONEY TO BURN. comicbooks.com