Life — January 9, 1919 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon from *Life* magazine showing a street scene. A well-dressed gentleman in a top hat and coat strides purposefully past a police officer at a traffic stop sign. The officer, uniformed and holding up his hand, appears to be attempting to stop or direct the man, while pedestrians and a vehicle are visible in the background. The satire likely mocks wealthy or prominent men who disregard traffic laws and police authority—the implication being that a "gentleman" of means feels entitled to ignore regulations meant for ordinary citizens. The incomplete caption ("on his way t[o] it his s...") suggests the joke involves where this rule-breaker is headed, though the full text is cut off. The cartoon critiques class-based disregard for civic rules and law enforcement.