Life — January 8, 1925 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis: "A Bedtime Motor Fable" This is a satirical story-fable about courtship and automobiles in the 1930s. The narrative centers on Ernest Schma, a man who buys a second-hand car to impress Miss Psych, a woman he loves. His rival, Ralph de Billtate, owns an expensive $12,000 Roadster and initially has the advantage. The satire targets masculine competition and materialism—Ernest's attempt to win affection through a vehicle purchase. The twist involves a near-tragedy at a railroad crossing that reverses social fortunes. The fable mocks the era's assumption that cars and money determine romantic desirability, while suggesting that character (Ernest's mechanical knowledge and safety awareness) ultimately matters more than wealth. The illustration shows a sightseeing bus—unclear how this relates directly to the plot.