Life — November 7, 1918 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily **advertising**, not satire. The main content consists of: 1. **"Today's Gasoline" article** - A technical advertisement by Gargoyle Mobiloils explaining lubrication problems caused by modern gasoline's lower volatility, which can thin engine oil. 2. **"That New Germ" cartoon and article** - A humorous piece about a French bacteriologist's discovery of an influenza germ. The accompanying sketch shows a figure dwarfed before the New York skyline, illustrating the microscopic nature of this "real person" germ. The tone is light and whimsical, celebrating scientific discovery. 3. **Large Gargoyle Mobiloils advertisement** - Promoting their motor oil products with a detailed lubrication chart for various automobile models. The page reflects early 20th-century concerns: modern automotive engineering challenges and contemporary enthusiasm for scientific advancement during the flu pandemic era.