Life, 1926-09-02 · page 26 of 41
Life — September 2, 1926 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces about 1920s American consumer culture. **"How to Tour Economically"** mocks the automobile industry's aggressive marketing. Gelzer claims he's "touring economically" by accepting free demonstration rides from car agencies—yet he's spent all five Sundays in August being driven around in different models ('Velvet Six,' 'Jupiter Eight,' 'Frisky Four,' etc.). The joke: he's covered 300 miles without buying anything, and estimates he'll need six more years of Sundays to finish test-driving all available cars. It satirizes both car dealers' relentless sales tactics and consumers' gullibility about "free" experiences. **"Deciding Factor"** is a brief joke about moral relativism: when asked if robbing Peter to pay Paul is justified, the answer depends entirely on whether you're Peter or Paul—exposing how people rationalize self-interest as principle. The top cartoon shows a woman on the first day of camp asking her husband to help open salmon cans instead of letting him fish, illustrating domestic priorities conflicting with leisure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
He (on the first day in camp): HAVE 1 TIME TO GO FISHING BEFORE sUPPER, DEAR? She: Yes, BUT HURRY BACK. * OSH, but you're looking fine, Gelzer, old boy,” I ex- med, wringing the hand you of my associate. “How did spend the so-called ‘heated term’ “Motoring.” laconic.) “Motorin, questioned. “You haven't purchased a car?” “No,” replied Gelzer, as calm as President Coolid fish; “the first Sur was out for a hundred-mi onstration in the ‘Pulsing —fine car, that. The following Sunday Jim Godshalk, who handles the ‘Velvet Six’ agency, took me out demonstrating his car. A great little bus, that, old man. The next two Sundays I was be- ing shown the marvelous riding and hill-climbing qualities of the ‘Jupiter Eight’ and the ‘Frisky Four.’ I guess we covered about three hundred miles those two I WANT YOU TO HELP ME OPEN ONE OF TILOSE CANS OF SALMON, How to Tour Economically days. There were five Sundays in August, so I split them up and com- pared the relati Powers’ There's ‘Silky Four,’ the ‘Purrin and the ‘Silent Standard. no fincr pleasure than speeding through the country with the wind in your face and a winding rib- bon—” “Which bought?” “None,” answered Gelzer. “I can only get away on Sundays and there are about fifty-three other cars that I ha had demonstrated to me. uring nine Sundays to the summer season, that should take care of my touring requirements for six more years. Where did you spend the so-called ‘heated term’?” Arthur L, Lippmann. did you say you Deciding Factor “T)O you believe it is rig rob Peter to pay Pau! “It depends entirely on whether I am Peter or Paul. HASN'T A LE FEMININE THING ABOUT HER.” “HOW ABOUT HER LITTLE DAUGHTER THERE?” comicbooks.com