Life, 1926-01-07 · page 12 of 40
Life — January 7, 1926 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three brief humor pieces about automobiles, reflecting early 20th-century car culture: **"The Air Is Free, Too"** mocks owners buying expensive car parts while claiming poverty—a joke about status anxiety. **"No, my auto"** satirizes the new habit of frequent car maintenance and repairs, with a driver changing fuel mixture repeatedly. **"A Matter of Location"** uses institutional naming to make a joke: a father explains that calling a "madhouse" by the formal name "State Hospital" or "Insane Asylum" doesn't change what it is—a commentary on how renaming doesn't alter reality. The large cartoon below depicts a speeding car with the caption "OH, DEAR, I'M AFRAID THAT OFFICER IS GOING TO CATCH ME FOR FAST DRIVING"—mocking reckless drivers and the emerging problem of traffic law enforcement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHY NOT A LAW REGULATING THE SIZE OF THE WHEEL BY THE NUMBER OF SPEED VIOLATIONS? The Air Is Free, Too t to buy a new tube.” » my auto.” . A Matter of Location | ammit! Let's change the mixture.” QxfALL BOY: Father, what do they Bill Sykes mean when they say “Civic Pride”? ’ Tue Fatuer: Well, it’s something “That reminds me; my battery is run. ORE than 700,000 voters of New _ like this. If the State institution for down.” York State failed to cast their the demented is located in our own city 10?" ballots on the proposed constitu we refer to it as the State Hospital; ional amendments, it is revealed. Such — if, however, it is located in another city ence and lack of public spirit we call it the Insane Asylum. radio.” “I've got three thousand miles on mine without a bit of trouble.” not be too gravely deplored. And— ——— er—by the way, what were the four ‘D* DS, not words.” said the ja realtor. “Six thousand on mine, “Your radio?” amendments ? “OM, DEAR, UM AFRAID THAT OFFICER IS GOING TO CATCH MF FOR FAST DRIVING,” | Dear Old Lady: CAN'T YoU DRIVE FASTER? | comicbooks.com #