Life, 1907-11-07 · page 12 of 50
Life — November 7, 1907 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, with a large political cartoon at the bottom. The cartoon depicts a rural couple in distress—a man slumped in a chair while a woman gestures dramatically. The caption reads: "IT CAN'T BE HELPED, MARTHA; WE'LL EITHER HAVE T' SELL ONE O' TH' AUTOMOBILES OR MORTGAGE THE FARM." The satire targets **rural economic anxiety during early automotive adoption**. The joke is that farmers have become so dependent on automobiles that they face an impossible choice: sell vehicles or mortgage their land—reversing traditional priorities. It mocks both the conspicuous consumption of rural buyers and the genuine economic pressure farmers faced, suggesting car ownership had become culturally essential even in financially precarious circumstances.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A “Tramp” Ignition System It matters not what price you may have paid for your car—a “tramp” ignition system will take all the life out of it. Faulty, sleepy, forgetful Batteries result in a tie- up. Your car will go on “strike” sooner or later. THE BATTERY WITHERBEE is a most industrious igniter. It is not a “drone” —it never forge Specify Witherbee Batteries for your 208 car if you wish to eliminate all igniti hibit at Madison Square Garden Show, Nov. 2-9. Witherbee Igniter Company 541 West 43d Street, New York CHICAGO: 1429 Michigan Avenue DETROIT: 220 Jefferson Avenue BALTIMORE OFFICE: S510 MAXIMUM HAND AND IN- STANTANEOUS RESETTING TRIP ODOMETER—POSITIVE NECESSITIES Do not buy a 1908 Speed Indicator without a Maximum Speed Hand and Inftantaneous Resetting Trip Odometer. These features are positive necessities. They are exclusive with the Jones Speedometer and are included in all the Jones Standard instruments without extra charge. Exhibit at Madison Square Garden Show, November 2-9, JONES SPEEDOMETER Broadway and 76th Street RosTON = PuILal cueswo CLEVELAND nop Mass. Ave, « agen Mich. Ave, 1841 Euclid Ave. NEW YORK | Stews and Hashes are rendered much . more tasty and appetizing by the use of Lea & Perrins’ Sauce THE ORIGINAL WORCESTERSHIRE It is a rare relish for Fish, Meats, Game, Salads, Cheese, etc. Jobn Duncan's Sons, Agents, N.Y. 'HE best aid to cheerfulness in business is one of these modern “pocket pieces.’? Writes without a break. Fitted with the John Holland Gold Pen and Patent Blastic Fissared Feed. A masterful creation, the climax of three generations of suc- cessful pen manufacture. This sim- ple invention insures even low and easy writing. With the Elastic feed ‘ink floods** are impossible. tented), attachable hol to pocket. A: cents to cost oe foun- tein pee, May be apphed to any Joba Holland Fountain Pen. If your nearby dealer does not handle, address us direct for FREE. Catalog filled with illastrations, showing over 200 styles and sizes costing from $2 upward. THE JOHN HOLLAND GOLD PEN CO. Established 1841 CINCINNATI THE RURAL DRAMA OF THE FUTURE “Tr CAN'T RE HELPED, MARTHA} WE'LL EITHER HAVE T’ SELL ONE 0’ TH’ AUTOMOBILES OR MORTGAGE THE PARM.”” comicbooks.com