Life — February 10, 1921 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Drive Your Own Car" by Montague Glass This satirical article argues that car owners should drive their own vehicles rather than hire chauffeurs. The piece mocks wealthy car owners who employ drivers, suggesting this practice is wasteful and unnecessary. The accompanying illustrations show chauffeurs in various uncomfortable situations—waiting in cold weather, standing idle outside theaters at night—highlighting the expense and inconvenience of maintaining hired drivers. Glass sardonically presents the counterargument: that some owners believe employing a chauffeur elevates their status, even if it costs substantial money. He attacks this pretension, arguing that self-driving is more practical, economical, and independent. The satire targets early 20th-century class consciousness and conspicuous consumption among the wealthy, advocating instead for practical self-reliance.