Life — March 9, 1911 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation for Modern Readers This LIFE magazine page satirizes a prestigious automobile prize committee. The five caricatured figures—identified as King Alfonso (Spain), Joseph Cannon (U.S. politician), Enrico Caruso (opera singer, committee chairman), Charles Parkhurst (clergyman), and King George (England)—supposedly judge LIFE's "Great Auto Race." The satire mocks the absurdity of assembling such an eclectic, international panel of famous men to select a car prize. The joke suggests their disparate expertise makes them ridiculous judges for automotive matters. The accompanying text humorously notes disagreements among committee members and quips that advertising the contest in LIFE magazine during this period would be daring. The right column lists participating automobile manufacturers ranked by advertising lines purchased—revealing the real commerce behind the "prize."