Life — February 22, 1912 — page 29: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **car advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the Matheson automobile's "Silent Six" engine, manufactured by the Matheson Automobile Company in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The ad emphasizes luxury and quality craftsmanship—specifically praising the chassis design and bodies by Brewster and Quinby. The tagline "Built for Those Who Use the Best" targets wealthy consumers. "Silent Six" likely refers to the engine's smooth, quiet operation compared to contemporary vehicles. The image shows a touring car typical of the early 1900s, suggesting this is vintage advertising aimed at affluent buyers seeking reliable, prestigious automobiles. The striped background is purely decorative design, common to period magazine advertising.