Life — October 23, 1924 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Paul Revere's Ride" (1924 Model) - Satire This comic strip satirizes the famous American Revolutionary War historical event through a 1920s automobile lens. Paul Revere's urgent midnight warning ("The British are coming!") is reimagined with modern cars instead of horses. The humor derives from applying contemporary technology to a sacred historical moment—the characters debate whether to take a ferry, discuss car troubles ("crank" the engine), and debate travel routes to Arlington and Lexington. The cartoon mocks how 1920s Americans approach historical narratives: filtered through modern convenience and practical concerns rather than patriotic grandeur. The lower panel ("Meet the Wife") depicts the chaotic parking and traffic that would result, further deflating the romantic legend with automotive-age reality and domestic comedy.