Life, 1917-08-16 · page 37 of 40
Life — August 16, 1917 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Left Column - "Foolish Figures":** This is satire mocking numerological superstitions popular during World War I. The author ridicules people who perform arithmetic tricks with birth years and dates—such as adding the King of England's birth year (1865) to his reign length to "prove" the war will end in 1917. The piece uses Josephus Daniels (Wilson's Secretary of the Navy) as an example of this absurd reasoning, arguing that such mathematical coincidences prove nothing about future events. The satirist concludes by suggesting readers should literally throw such predictors out the window with their umbrella-stand—mocking the desperate superstition of wartime audiences seeking mystical reassurance. **Right Side - Advertisement:** A Gargoyle Mobiloils advertisement disguised as editorial content, featuring neighbors discussing why one car outperforms the other on a hill. The "experienced motorist" attributes the difference to using the correct grade of motor oil, which maintains proper piston-ring seal. This is earnest product promotion, not satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
for ary Vou sit aw ? try? oko Luti- na tray D to tish- hh, re on.” revealed ess, tone healthy ve basic nd $1,005) w York Foolish Figures ARGE numbers of people have been thrilled to the core by tables of sures running something after this fashion : 1865 King of England born.. Ascended throne .....+ Has reigned ......0:.6. 7 years Has lived 0... years 3834 The fact that one-half of 3834 is 1917 is considered some sort of mystic proof that the war will end in 1917. Corresponding dates for the Kaiser, the Emperor of Austria, the King of Italy, the Ahkoond of Swat, the Gack- war of Baroda, the Janitor of Jodh- pore, the Tar of Tabasco and other potentates give the same results. It is such a mysterious and incomprehen- sible portent that it makes strong men reverse their cuffs in their emotion. Actually, it is quite childish. If man was born in 1863 and is now fifty- two years old, the sum of those two numbers must be the present year. If he received a life job in 1910, and has held it seven years, the sum of thos two numbers must also be the present | year, Add all four numbers together, | and the sam must necessarily be dou- ble the present year—or 3834. | One might use the same sort of fig- ures on President Wilson’s Cabinet. For example: Josephus Daniels born... 1863 Appointed Sec. of Navy. 1913 Has messed things up 4 years Has lived ..... $4 years | 3834 But just because one-half of 3834 is 1917, we needn't jump joyously to the | conclusion that Josephus going to resign in 1917, or that he is going to make fewer blunders in 1917 than he made in 1916, 1915 and 191g. Whenever anyone juggles a column of figures and attempts to prove by the | result that something is going to hap- | pen at a certain time in the future, one is thoroughly justified in throwing the figurer’s hat out of the window and driving him through the front door with the umbrella-stand, KL. R. KHINOCEROSES ENJOY REAN-BALL AND OFTEN INDULGE IN A GAME OF IT ON THE VELDT. WO neighbors were talking. Both had new cars of the same mak “You passed me rather easily on the hill yesterday,” said the first. “It seems as though we should have been nip and tuck.” “So we should,” replied the other—an ex- perienced motorist. “Have you tampered with your carbureter?” “No” “What oil do you use?” “Oh, any good ‘medium’ oil.” “Maybe that's the difference. I use Gargoyle Mobiloil ‘A’ as recommended for our cars in the Vacuum Oil Company's Chart of Recommendations.” “Well, that’s a ‘medium’ oil, isn’t it?” “Yes, But ‘medium’ oils vary almost as much in body as they do in quality.” But I don't see... 1. Nor did I—some years back. But there isa differ- ence, It’s a difference in piston-ring seal, Of course you know there's a clearance between our cylinders, piston rings and pistons. The correct oil will thoroughly close this clearance, The power is then tightly sealed thin the combustion chambers, preventing waste of gas and power past the rings. The force of a power explosion may be 300 pounds or over to the square inch, You can imagine how it shoots past the piston rings if they aren't thoroughly sealed with the correct oil. You may ask, “Is the above an actual conversation?” No. It simply brings out an every-day condition. Oftener than most motorists realize, power shortage can be traced back directly to poor piston-ring seal due to using oil of incorrect body, or poor quality. A change to the correct grade of Gargoyle Mobiloils often shows surprising results—increased power, gaso- line economy and reduced oil consumption, to say noth- ing of reduced carbon deposit. Write for new s6-page booklet containing complete discussion of your lubrication problems, list of troubles with remedies and complete Charts of Recommendati: for Automobiles, Motorcycles, Tractors and Motor-boat Engines. Mobiloils Al grade for cach type of motor In buyin yle Mobiloils from your dealer, safest to purchase in original packages. Look for the red goyle on the container. “If the dealer has not the grade specified for your car, he can casily secure it for you VACUUM OIL COMPANY Rochester, N. Y., U.S. A. Specialists in the manufacture of high-grade lubricants for every class of machinery. Obtainable everywhere in the world. Kansas € Gargoyle Mobile’ Gargoyle Mobilo G. Gar ‘zoyle Mol + of Gar ied to ree ste M. Loi biloil “Arcti ‘Mette Nab Tesive | tay Gaora) | Heten i | Kearos an Kay agg Cont Pace waa 35,8: 18: >: 8, >) 5 | wee ¢ z ¢ ae i} es ae bE Sa 8 > >t > > >a>> Of: 88: FF > 35, 838 ee of pleasure cars comicbooks.com