Life — September 3, 1925 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents two contrasting scenes labeled "Tit for Tat," satirizing automobile traffic and behavior circa early-to-mid 20th century. **Top panel ("Tit"):** Shows a long queue of cars and pedestrians waiting patiently in an orderly line. **Bottom panel ("Tat"):** Depicts the same scenario reversed—a massive crowd of pedestrians waits behind a barrier while a single car speeds past on a race track. The cartoon satirizes the imbalance and growing power of automobiles in urban spaces. It suggests that drivers receive preferential treatment and expedited passage through city streets, while pedestrians must wait in lengthy queues. The "tit for tat" title implies a reciprocal arrangement that's decidedly unfair to foot traffic. This reflects early automotive-era tensions about urban congestion and competing claims on public streets.