Life — July 22, 1915 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. It promotes Kelly-Springfield Tires through an illustration of the Lincoln Highway, a famous early 20th-century cross-country auto route. The circular vignette shows a well-dressed couple with their automobile, emphasizing leisure travel. The ad claims Kelly-Springfield tires require minimal adjustment over 3,000-6,000 miles—a significant selling point for a 1914 audience when tire durability was a genuine concern for motorists attempting long-distance journeys. The Lincoln Highway reference appeals to American automobile culture and the era's excitement about cross-country motoring. The ad targets middle-to-upper-class car owners, positioning Kelly-Springfield as reliable for ambitious road trips. The mileage guarantees listed at bottom (plain vs. Kant-Slip treads) were concrete proof of product quality.