Life, 1902-10-09 · page 7 of 22
Life — October 9, 1902 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the early automobile era through "The Latest in Automobiles," featuring humorous fictional car models: **The Left Cartoon** depicts what appears to be a colonial or biblical scene where figures discuss religion, titled with a quote about "Royal Highness" and "Christianity"—likely mocking wealthy society's pretensions. **The Right Section** presents invented automobile "styles" with names like "THE RAM" (designed to damage rather than scare), "THE BLOODSPILLER" (emitting terrible smells), and "THE CHILDKILLER SPECIAL" (for dispatching infants). These grotesque names sarcastically critique actual automobile dangers—early cars were genuinely hazardous to pedestrians and society, yet treated as desirable luxury items by the wealthy. The satire mocks how fashionable society embraces dangerous technology without acknowledging its social costs.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIPE? “Do YOU THINK HER ROYAL MIGHNESS SHOWS ANY INTENTION To EMBRACE CuntstiaNtty 2" “YES, INDEED, @HE HAS ARRANGED TO MARRY YOU THIS VERY APTERS Noon 1" to read The Story of Lizie McGuire, by herself. It would fret them and would doubtless make them no wiser. The balance of the public will find half an hour's amusement in the ** confessions” of this Chelsea, Massachusetts, maiden, (Henry A. Dickerman and Son.) J.B. Kerfoot, OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED. Billy Burgundy's Letters. (J. ¥. Taylor and Company, 75¢.) Daniel Webster. By Samuel W. McCall, (Houghton, Mittin and Com- pany. 80c.) Cyr's Adcanced First Reader. By Ellen M, Cyr, (Ginn and Company, Boston. 30.) Harvard Unirersity Songs, Compiled by E. F. Da Bolse, (Oltver Dit- son Company, Boston.) Vitality. ENATOR CLARK paying two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a dozen rugs to put in his new house leaves no reasonable doubt that it costs at least as much to break into good society to-day as it ever cost. Farther, it is authoritatively given out that the Newport colony have succeeded in spending more moncy this season than they spent any previous season. . Accordingly one is puzzled to hear it claimed, in seem- ing seriousness, that our leisure class is decadent. 303 The Latest in Automobiles. Young gentlemen with money, who wish to amuse themselecs in the most fashionable manner, are requested to examine our stuck, Rome had its gladiators, but the automobile renders the pleas- ure of our leisure class equally bloody, while safer and more exciting, Style A, THERAM. This machine, though light, can easily tun down and smash any ordinary vehicle, It makes no noise, its object being to damage rather than to scare, by stealing upon its victims, But it has a daisy smell. Style B. THE BLOODSPILLER. This has all the principal advantages of the modern automobile. It has a sickening smell and comes down the road with a terrifying clatter, sure to stampede any ordinary horse. Battering ram in front. Style C. THE CHILDKILLER SPECIAL. A machine designed especially to dispatch curbstone infants, Swift in its methods, SEE THIS LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS : AERIAL ATTACHMENT. This, fastened onto your automobile in front, tosses pedestrians in the air to a con- siderable height, affording much amusement. Smaller sizes for children, = THE WHIKF. This is a reservoir of the most awful smells experts have ever devised. It is worked by means of a hose, and can be turned into the faces of all who pass, without personal discomfort to the operator. Worth While. HE: I should like to know what good your college education did you? He: Well, it taught me to owe a lot of money without being annoyed by it. K comicbooks.com