Life, 1911-04-06 · page 69 of 76
Life — April 6, 1911 — page 69: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a humorous poem mocking the social disruption caused by automobiles. The accompanying illustration shows an early motorcar broken down at a blacksmith's shop. The satire reverses traditional hierarchies: the once-humble blacksmith now commands respect and prosperity, while wealthy car owners and their chauffeurs stand "humbly" and "reverently" awaiting repairs. The poem emphasizes the blacksmith's newfound wealth—he visits the bank daily, wears fine clothing, and his modest shop has expanded into a grand building. The joke satirizes how automobiles, despite promising progress and status, frequently broke down and required constant repair. This dependency actually elevated tradesmen like blacksmiths while humbling the affluent owners. The repeated refrain about owners and chauffeurs losing their wits or gnashing their teeth underscores the frustration these unreliable machines caused. The contrasting Detroit Electric Roadster advertisement suggests a solution: a more reliable electric vehicle needing no chauffeur.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
clusive Footwear —To Your Order— Made in any design to match your gown, cloak or hat. QWrite for illustrated catalog ‘*L"” and measure- ment blank. /7¢ guaranteed. E. HAYES Ladies’ Custom Shoes 9-11 West 29th St. New Y “WELLSLEY Ne St Bet, Fifth A Edward Hayes patent Village Blacksmith Under a costly canopy The village blacksr Lefore him is a touring Broken to little bits— And the owner, and the chauffeur, too, Have almost lost “their wits. The village blacksmith smiles with glee As he lights his fat ci He tells his helpers what to do To straighten up the car— And the owner, and the chauffeur, 100, Stand humbly where they are blacksmith puffs his weed And smiles a smile of cheer The while his helpers pump the tires And monkey with the gear— And the owner, and the chauffeur, too, Stand reverently near. Behind the village blacksmith is The portal of his shop; The shop is very With a tiled roo! ge in size, on top— TheClub brand repre- sents the same high 2 the Hall snark Eaylaod sad the he ii tl Sterling in America do in silver. : . ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES. Martin! (gin bose) ond Monhatta (whiskey base) ove the mos! popular, “Atall good dealers &,F. HEUBLEIN & BRO., Sole Props. ome a OWNTOWN — where mean do//ars—the Detroit Electric Roadster gets a man to his appoint- ments on” the dot. You need no chauffeur. Turn a key—and start. you safely make the narrow gaps —style—ample power—and silen For business who goes about. Anderson Electric Car Co. Dept. 4 Detroit, Mich. Branches: New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Buffalo, Cleveland. Selling Representatives in al leading cities. Its special control means that man, professional Our new Detroit Electric Catalog illustrates all ing Broughams, Victorias and Roadsters. minutes It’s always ready. in traffic. It has /ines t drive. man—every man -includ- Mailed on request. PS LT AT A And the owner, and the chauffeur, too, At it were glad to stop. The children, going home from school, Look in at the open door; They like to sce him make his bills And hear the owners roar- And the chauffeurs weep as they declare They ne'er paid that before. He goes each morning to the bank, And salts away his cash; A high silk hat and long frock coat Help him to cut a dash— 73 Legrand=Paris For Sale All Dealers, But the owncr, and the chauffeur, too, Their teeth all vainly gnash The chestnut tree long since has dicd, The smith does not repine ; His humble shop has grown into A building big and fine— And it bears ” above the door =— Best Perfumery and Soaps at Moderate Prices. comicbooks.com