Life — March 9, 1916 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily a **Weed Anti-Skid Chains advertisement** disguised as editorial content, a common early-20th-century marketing tactic. The "cartoon" depicts two men in hats examining a crystal ball showing a car accident scene with a vehicle skidding on wet pavement. The dramatic narrative blames the car owner for negligence—specifically for failing to equip his chauffeur with tire chains, resulting in an accident that injured his wife. The message exploits contemporary anxieties about automobiles (still relatively new and dangerous) to promote Weed Chains as essential safety equipment. The moral lesson—that accidents are preventable through proper preparation—is designed to shame readers into purchasing the product. The ad emphasizes liability and legal consequences alongside personal injury, making a business case for the chains' purchase.