Life — September 8, 1904 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Great Run" - Life Magazine Satire This page satirizes William Plunger, a wealthy chauffeur whose reckless driving has caused panic among the public. The left column details his cross-country motor car journey, with reports from various cities documenting near-misses and collisions—he "hit or miss[es] all the way." The right-side cartoon titled "The Wrong Room" appears unrelated, depicting what seems to be a social comedy scenario about mistaken identity or inappropriate intrusion. The piece mocks both Plunger's dangerous driving and society's tolerance of wealthy men endangering ordinary citizens. The satirical tone—treating his vehicular chaos as a celebrated "record" and "glorious end"—critiques the early automotive age's reckless indulgence and the law's apparent inability to restrain wealthy troublemakers.