Life — May 24, 1923 — page 29: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon by W.T. Erright depicting the invention of the elevator. The caption presents a character named "George W. Stoneaxe" (likely a pun on a prehistoric or caveman name) inventing the elevator "with the assistance of his wives." The cartoon shows a fantastical contraption featuring a massive elephant, pulley systems, and baskets of people being hoisted up a tall structure. Multiple wives appear throughout the scene operating various mechanical parts. The satire operates on several levels: it humorously attributes a major modern invention to a primitive figure, and jokes about relying on wives' labor for technological progress—a commentary on both gender roles and the underrecognized contributions of women to innovation. The absurd, chaotic design emphasizes how impractical and ridiculous such a setup would be, enhancing the comedic effect.