Life, 1916-04-06 · page 75 of 80
Life — April 6, 1916 — page 75: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **automobile advertisement** for the Chalmers 3400 r.p.m. car ($1050), not a political cartoon or satire. However, the ad contains **significant social commentary** reflective of early 1900s attitudes: **The "satire"** is unintentional—the copy reveals period prejudices. It emphasizes the car is "a woman can drive without the slightest uneasiness, because she's schooled to obey," treating the automobile like an obedient servant or child. This reflects assumptions about women drivers needing "safe," easy-to-operate vehicles rather than complex machinery. The illustration shows people with the car in casual, leisure scenarios—a man with a rifle/gun, others with an umbrella—suggesting this is a car for recreation and pleasure rather than serious work. **For modern readers:** The ad's language about women needing an "obedient" car reveals how early 20th-century marketers viewed female competence and agency—patronizing by today's standards, but unremarkable advertising copy for the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CS ties. gine hrift ay a inds. , the prize ar of peed. —the 3400 r. p. m. She'll go 60 miles an hour any time you say, but why 60? She’s a car a woman can drive without the slightest uneasiness, because she’s schooled to obey. She makes every: gallon of gas refund you 18 miles of untroubled travel. Your gasoline bill at the end of the year will total $150 to $200 less than if you were driving some other car with a low-speed engine. . And the smooth, unfretted ease of her going will add many miles to the life of your tires. One rejuvenating journey in the 8400 r. p. m Chalmers — $1050” Chalmers, and you'll know what T mean when I say that this is the car that has upset all popular-priced automobile traditions, and put itself above the pale of competition. Not to have seen and felt this vehement, wheeled creature perform, is to miss a thrill worth standing in line to experience. Touring Car or Roadster, $1050 Detroit; $1475 in Canada Cabriolet, $1400 Detroit; $1900 in Canada Colors: Meteor Blue, or Oriford Maroon with gold stripe Cabriolet also furnished in Valentine Green. Chalmers Motor Company Detroit, Michigan comicbooks.com