Life, 1917-04-26 · page 2 of 84
Life — April 26, 1917 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Michelin Tire Company advertisement**, not political satire. The page features the Michelin Man (Bibendum), the company's mascot—a rotund, tire-like figure made of stacked rings—endorsing their tire tubes. The ad uses verse to argue Michelin tubes are superior: they won't become "stale or porous," are naturally red (not artificially dyed), and have a "rounded" shape "like a curler." The testimonial claims they outlast competitors and won't be "sometimes sell you." The lower illustration shows the mascot recommending the product to potential customers—three figures in 1920s-era clothing and goggles (suggesting early motorists). This is straightforward commercial messaging with no political content—typical early 20th-century advertising humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Fatered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y..a8 Second Class Mait Aisin, ‘Hmered ay Secoml Clase Matrer at the Post Orbice Department, Carnie’ Copyright ia Englaad aad the British Possessives. I've spent a lot of my good tin On tubes that I have tested, And so I'd like to tell you how Your coin is best invested. Some tubes I’ve found will soon grow old And hard and weak and brittle; And others that I’ve fairly tried Have never won acquittal. But there’s a tube I know will make You join the happy chorus, For it’s the tube you'll never find Becoming stale or porous. This tube ss red—not dyed or stained (No artificial color) — Hi It’s not made straight, as others are, vey But rounded, “like a cruller.’’ plus shot in { It’s sure the best at any price, a geth And so I'm glad to tell you the It costs no more than other makes five- That dealers sometimes sell you. char So take my tip and buy this tube, “N When next a tube you're needing, For Mich-el-ins will wear so well, They'll prove what you've been reading. MICHELIN TIRE CO., MILLTOWN, N. J. Send for a copy of the Tire Users’ Handbook a complete text book telling how (0 get the greatest service out your tires, recardicss of their make. | Sent free om request —ne ebligation of any kind, comicbooks.com