Life, 1917-09-20 · page 5 of 40
Life — September 20, 1917 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily advertisements** rather than political satire. The main content includes: 1. **"The Garage Efficient"** - A dialogue mocking an auto mechanic's incompetence. A man bought a used car that immediately breaks down completely. The mechanic offers no legal recourse and suggests the owner take the afternoon off—satirizing poor service and the buyer's helplessness. 2. **Advertisement section** - Multiple product ads (W.L. Douglas shoes, Dunlop golf balls, Prophylactic toothbrushes, Capewell horse nails). 3. **"Those Hard Heads"** - A brief essay about businessmen, discussing whether hard-headed practicality can coexist with compassion. The satire is mild social commentary on consumer frustration and business ethics, typical of *Life* magazine's gentle humor from this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Deatop Tire & Kabiber Goods Con, Ltd. Toronto fow on his shoring bills. Not chea less of quality but the world's best at: The Garage Efficient E walked in briskly and said to the man in charge: “You are the one, I believe, who sold me my second-hand auto.” “Yes, sir.” “Tt hasn't run since T bought it.” “Ye “The tire second day.” “The paint flaked off, the electricity wouldn't splutter a spark, the gas tank had a hole in the bottom and all the sir.” crumbled in pieces on the spark plugs were missing.” “Knowing that T have no recourse in the law, and that 1 can't get any- thing back, I have come in to do the only thing possible, There being no policeman within call, I propose to give you the most magnificent thrashing that you ever had.” The man in charge touched a bell, and another man appeared, rather the worse for wear. “Jim,” he said, “how many times have you been thrashed this morning?” “Three.” “And your contract calls for——?" “Four.” “Pull off your co: for this gentleman, and then you can, if you like, take the afternoon off Kindly step outside in the areaway, sir, as I haven't read my morning paper yet.” and get ready For long drives, for winning putts DUNLOP GOLF BALLS F you've never played these British-made balls do so this fall! Note how much far- ther you drive and observe how much more surely you hole your putts. made by expe choice of dis DUNLOPS, are the first inating golfers. .DOUGLAS “ THE SHOE THAT HOLDS ITS SHAPE” $3 $3.50 54 $4.50 $5 56 $7 & $8 You CanSave MoneybyWearing itll x W. L. Douglas Shoes. The Best 3, Known Shoes in the World. ¢ W: L. Douglas name and the retail price /|}}) is stamped on the bottom of every pair of shoes at the factory. The value is guar- anteed and the wearer protected against high prices for inferior shoes. The retail prices are the same everywhere. They cost no more in San Francisco than they do in New York. Theyare always worth the price paid for them. he quality of W. L.Douglas product is guaranteed by morethan 40 years - , experience in making fine shoes. The ~ Best inthe World smart styles are the leaders in the fashion $3 $2.50 $2 centresof America. They are made ina well-equipped factory at Brockton, Mass., by the highest paid, skilled shoemakers, under the direction and supervision of experienced men, all working with an honest determination to make the best shoes for the price that money can buy. BEWARE OF FRAUD, None genuine unless W. L. Douglas name and the retail price ts stamped on the botto TAK 'O SUBSTITUTE For sale by over 9000 shoe dealers and 105 W. L. Douglas stores in the large cities. If not convenient to call at W. L. Douglas store, ask your local dealer for W. L. Douglas shoes. If he cannot supply you, take noother make. Write for booklet, showing how toorder shoes by mail, postage free. WA, DOUGLAS SHOE Co. 147 Spark St., Brockton, Mass, BOYS SHOES The Boy Who Pegged Shoes. Besides pegging his usual quota of shoes each dayW. L. Douglas was obliged to gather fuel to keep the fires going. Try “29° DWTS or "31°" DWTS $10 per dozen 85c. each For sale by Golf Professionals Distrib are shod the best and most durably. The Capewell is made tostand the jar, the pull, the twist which ahorse nails sure toget. Made to hold /fuis theshoe sothat the horse ownersuffersno (HOD HEAD fT rani clean Tooth Brush Sophy” . Those Hard Heads an lots is to be a hard-headed bus NE of the most desirable of h here there are perils. The chief peril is that one’s h authorities declare that there is often very little to distinguish a ha ¢ this distinction must l-headed business ¢ preserved at all man from a bone-headed business man. Of ¢ hazards, Another trouble is that when the head becomes hard the heart to be similarly affected. So frequently is this true, many believe business man must also be a hard-hearted business man, but such a swe egregiously unfair. The ideal combination is to have a hard bead and a soft heart. Con- is a tendency for the generality