Life, 1924-12-04 · page 62 of 72
Life — December 4, 1924 — page 62: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical article mocks the false economy of wives receiving automobiles as time-saving devices. The cartoon's joke: a woman undertakes a shopping trip to town that consumes **5 hours and 20 minutes** — despite her husband buying her a car supposedly to save her time. The breakdown itemizes every inefficiency: 15 minutes to reach the business district, 30 minutes hunting for parking, 15 minutes walking to the store, then reversing the process. The punchline is implicit: **the car actually wastes time** through traffic, parking hassles, and navigation rather than saving it. This targets early 1920s consumer culture and gender dynamics — the husband's well-intentioned "gift" is exposed as impractical. The satire critiques both automotive marketing claims and the assumption that modern conveniences automatically benefit women, while the cartoon's image of a woman clutching money and a map reinforces the satiric tone of resigned frustration.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Dash into Town By the Little Treasure Whose Husband Bought Her a Car to Save Her Time MINS, Te the edge of the business district 15 To the center of the business dis- trict. «ag Hunting for a parking place 30 The walk to the store. 1s The purchases = 10 Locating car.. 2 35 Deparking’ ... 5030 Getting out of business district st40 From there home. seeceees 10 Total time consumed by dash— s hrs. 20 mins. She knew - SRNR RRR ANI S SSS SIII SSS rt For Christmas give RAZOSINIFE The Ever Keen Knife with the real razor edge Used safety razor blades make new - knife . blades, easily replaced in a jiffy—no screws or Famous Trees Holiday Goods fasteners—just snap into place. HRISTAIAS — T'S drape the cotton snow about | Razo-Nife is a handsome piece of jewelry- ll Our imitation Christmas tree. made xh solid Jewelers grade nickel silver, wit rs " . a neat design etched on the handle. Like the With flowing cup and cheery shout finest watches, this handy knife is made a We'll laud synthetic chemistry. thin as possible—only 14 inch thick—so fis “ A ” [e] S i vi ibbons , you can’t feel it in your vest pocket. Just the If this be —son tur presents tied with ribbons gay thing for the end of a watch chain. One, two, From paper fashioned, let us ope. A derful gift California Redwood ‘Thus truly shall we keep the day ST ee Max Beerbohm's brother. Of what will be good will—we hope. tnied, cen” $1.00 HOW. H. With #7 fe'gual emblem on bande, 81.50 each The Yule log leaps with Tance-like eee ee ee eee il RLS Were they enpane ? flame, Xmas present. Give them to 3 " Can be es :_ Were: they ‘engaged long? | plans eee oa made up with your ad or trademark on handle. Writ ZpitH: Oh, one crossword puzzle. So bright it hardly seems like gas. for quantity prices. That Santa Claus is What's-His-Name sta el pn aaa | THE GREENDUCK CO. Lin KOBLER AIR AND WATER PEARL PIPE | =n whiskers. Oh, well, let it pass. 1725-41 W. North Ave., Chicago. Takes out of the smoke 19% Nicotin, 85% Pyridin. | The evergreens were dipped in dye. Gentlemen: Enclosed find $.... for . Razo- “Under the spreading chestnut ——" Lily Lang. $5.90. Literature free. Nives, Kebler & Co, lec, $94 26D SL, Gattenberg, West New York, M. J, Our holly in no wood did grow. But one real thing attracts the eye— f Address. ACTING PLAYS (Noone At least, there’s honest mistletoe. tlons. Drills. Minstrel and Vaudeville Jokes and Sketebes; City DRAMATIC PUGLISHING CO., 842 Se, Dearborn St-JCHICAGO James K. McGuinness, Name...... perererrrrerrrrrerrrrrr errr comicbooks.com