Life, 1912-04-18 · page 50 of 54
Life — April 18, 1912 — page 50: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a humorous story titled "A Yankee Trait" illustrating a supposed New England characteristic: answering questions with questions. The narrative describes an English gentleman's wager with a friend that any New Englander will respond to a direct question by posing one in return. When tested in St. James's Park with "What o'clock is it by your watch?" a Yankee replies "Why, I don't know. What o'clock is it by yours?" The anecdote humorously suggests this as a distinctly regional trait, confirming the stereotype. The satire mocks both the supposed peculiarity of New Englanders and the English habit of making bets on trivial observations about regional behavior. It plays on period stereotypes of Yankees as evasive or cleverly argumentative—a lighthearted ethnic/regional humor common to early-20th-century American magazines. The surrounding advertisements (speedometers, tires, garage services) are unrelated to the satirical content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE: other. [am indebted, in some measure to B, for this distinction, who, in early life, spent a winter in Hartford, Con- necticut, but which your own observa- tions, even in Boston, will abundantly confirm. When my friend, the Templar, first noticed this local peculiarity, T was inclined to dispute its universality among us; B. offered to risk the decision of our dispute upon the reply of the first New Englander we should chance to ac- cost; and, Englishman who is op- posed to you in argument always has a bet or a blow at your service, he offered a small wager that he would propose a direet question to him, and the Yankee should reply by asking another. We were strolling in St. James's Park, ewar and who should approach, very oppor- After the frst salutations, B Speedometer Bray. Me oo a at adds immensely to the pleasure ay is it by your watch ny. ha iy. What o'clock is it by yaue? ° and safety of automobiting This was followed by a hearty laugh |||] The Stewart is the most efficient speed indi- cator manufactured. It never makes a mis take, never misses a second to the hour or : . an inch to the mile; others may cost more Garages that Give happen again in a thousand in but they cannot do more. Ge stances, and, finally, when B., in the pride P ice Show This Sign of victory, offered to double the bet and Foss cat of oreey five speedometers in ue ing them with your repair work, you epeat the experiment, he too » Jinormal wear. cnt down maingen- repeat theveaperinient, he-soak. hil tp The plants that make the other 20 per cent oe Merease the efficiency then B. said, “Select your man; but here |Il] haven't the same facilities; haven’t the same the life of your cat. comes your countryman, Dr, ———; you production; so they can’t manufacture as Granular nor shaft bearings are respo ble for a heavy. percentage of avoidable motor trouble well or as cheaply. Non-Gran—the High-Speed Rearing Bronze, that will Stewart Speedometers are built the strongest not metaltize. the voil—makes your ear run better jer longer, and far more economically. and last the longest. fon-Gran Garages are equipped to install any size bearings without sending away for special. parte Magnetic_principl ges that oe it keep yout car fn petit comfition ployedin aS per cent ofall ihe time by correcting motor ilis before they be- fee ee meee tees Or powible the use of slow © Non-Gran Sia. It wll save you tin moving parte; no wear car wil t when it was explained to Charles, he insisted it was merely fortuitous and Mahop at a heavy expense ae well Makes Tires kably accurate ous inconvenience to you. / mile season odo- incon’ nce to you. i Look New and meter; 100-mile tripresie- How to Prevent Damage to Your Car ter, can be setback to any An Interesting illustrated booklet proves the value of Last Longer tenth of a mile y o you. It will pay you to tc Th . sent driv * € buying a new car of having y« 7 ‘renew is a scientific 1 m es not use Ne E “ ss "1 i Speedometers, $15 to $9 valuable booklet pre Don’ it until your % tires—a liquid, unvulcan- road wheel gears. Clock Combinations, $45 t0 5% car is ruined—inve Non-Gran sow. | ized rubber coating, made AMERICAN BRONZE COMPANY : of pore tare, gam Ie Speedometer Gyeraqtced a 340-378 Lancaster Pike, Berwyn, Pennsylvani j wears like rubber. Waite for handsome 1812 catalog telling you why i f or w denc “| fi our fact w ey edomet Automobile ¥3i, 2 3 =) Made in 2 shades— atinelowest Brice. WRITE TODAY Garages and : i ‘ white and tire gray. STEWART & CLARK MANUFACTURING CO. B Tirenew makes the tires 1893 Diversey Boulevard, Chicago Repair ; eof Non F look beght and new. and ‘Chicago Sen Francleco ‘New Yor d FRaaceipnin » Kassas C chly Applied gives the entire car ca well-groomed appearance. Tirenew Preserves Tires . Tires are made of an inner framework of heavy A Yankee Trait cotton fabric covered with an outer rubber ccating will allow him to be as correct a speaker which takes the wear of the road. Manufacturers as any in New England; all shall be fair; The following story, illustrating a Ne cf tires tay—"Keep moisture away from the fabric I will put the question in such a gland peculiarity, is taken from a book moisture rots it."” However, tires in use quickly become a mass of cuts through which moisture ” enters. Tirenew will flow into these cuts and water- id {akeni:byssurprise roof the expored fabric. thereby adding greatly to Charles sckeowledged De. = — vey If I should be requested to note some the life of the tire. the very man he would have selected snibboleth to distinguish an Old from a Send $1.00 and your dealer's name, The doctor by this time joined our party. New Englander it would not be like the and we will send you a trial can of “ Pray, doctor,” said B. very deliberately, Israclites in pronune . nor yet ir Tirenew, enough for 12 tires, prepaid “what is the reason you New Engl expression or tin words but or through your dealer. men always reply to a question by in mode. An E pan puts and an Our vaiabic booklet entitled “Tire Care sent free upon ing another?” . spplication “Why, is that the case, sir?” lander puts his question circuitously and ere ey es ne always answers a question by asking.an- NATIONAL RUBBER CO. 4406 Papin Street, ST. LOUIS, U.S. A. I prechide the possibility of bf ited “A Chaplet of Comus,” seritten by ¢ Bostonian, and published in 18 swers a question directly, a New Eng-