Life, 1915-07-08 · page 24 of 44
Life — July 8, 1915 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story satirizes early automotive culture and masculine ego. Maltby, a car owner, publicly complains about his defective automobile—loose brakes, rattles, carbon buildup, faulty electrical systems. The auto agent confronts him, suggesting he's violated an unspoken social code: men don't admit their purchases are failures because it damages their pride. The humor lies in Maltby's absurd justification for *refusing* repairs: he claims being "the only man in the country" willing to criticize his own car gives him distinction and purpose. Rather than enjoy a working vehicle, he prefers complaining about it—his complaints have become his *identity*. The satire mocks both stubborn male vanity and the early auto industry's poor quality control, suggesting buyers preferred maintaining grievances over admitting they'd been swindled. The accompanying news item about Ambassador Page's statement on the Nebraskan appears unrelated filler content.
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Sy Assy THE MOON-FLOWER AND THE MOON-MOTH The Only One ° MAtt8y looked up as the agent who had sold him his auto ap- proached, He was in no pleasant mood, and the agent was the very man he wanted to see. “T've heen trying to locate you,” he growled, “but you are a mighty hard ch—after you've made your about that car of mine. he brakes are loose and the thing rattles like a Mississippi River steam- boat of the vintage of ‘49. Carbon forms on the cylinders so thick that it has to be removed with a snow- plough, The clectric system doesn't The whole thing is wrong. The agent stopped Maltby by a look in the eye. It was the kind of look that only an auto agent can give, “You've been talking about that car,” he said, “outside.” He said it quietly, but there was power in his 1," almost roared the exasper- ated Maltby, “why shouldn't I? It’s a bum car, It isn’t what you said it was. I want everyone to know it. Of course I’ve talked about it.” “Why didn’t you ask us to fix i “Hal” Maltby grinned. “ That’s a good joke, Ask you to fix it! As if T hadn't. Why, man, I’ve been haunt- ing your place for weeks. You would have known that if you hadn’t been so busy with your victims. Usually when I got it back it was worse. Generally you put me off. Oh, I guess you auto men are all the same.” The agent gazed at him pathetically. Most unusual case,” he muttered. “Never knew before a man to admit that his own car wasn’t the best in the world, no matter how much trouble he had with it. After we once get ‘em we hold 'em, because they don't dare admit that they have been fooled. Say, I'll make you a proposition. If you'll stop talking I'll fix your car up so it will run fine.” “Never!” said Maltby. “But why not?” “Well,” said Maltby, “I'm the only man in the country who has courage enough to run down his own car, It gives me, as you suggest, a certain dis- tinction and furnishes me with an occupation. Why, if you should fix my car right I wouldn’t have anything to do but run around in it, Never, sir! Never!” The News in the Family M* READER (from the news- paper): Ambassador Page’ says the Nebraskan was torpedoed. Mars. Reaver: Why, does he? I understood Mr, Bryan resigned en- tirely of his own accord. Anyhow, I wonder that a man in Ambassador Page's position should express such an opinion POPULAR MOVIES TWENTY LEGS UNDER THE SEA comicbooks.com