Life — June 4, 1908 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is **not a cartoon or satire page**, but rather a **straightforward advertisement** for the Mitchell Motor Car Company of Racine, Wisconsin. The ad promotes the Mitchell automobile at $2,000, positioning it as offering excellent value—claiming it provides everything one expects from a car at that price point. The text argues that while faster, more powerful cars exist, they're unnecessary for practical driving and cost significantly more to maintain. The ad references the Mitchell's success at the Chicago Auto Show, where 200 units sold, and invites potential customers to test-drive the vehicle (a "Touring Car" model shown) against competitors. This represents typical early automotive advertising from the pre-1920s era, when car manufacturers competed heavily on value and practical features rather than luxury or speed.