Life, 1927-01-13 · page 7 of 39
Life — January 13, 1927 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early automotive culture and gender dynamics. The poem "Life: To a Coddled Coupé" mocks pampered car owners—depicted as demanding and spoiled. It contrasts them with working people ("slaves") who maintain vehicles while receiving no gratitude. The section "What They Expect in a Car" humorously lists different driver stereotypes: the speed-obsessed "Family Man," the evasive traffic violator, the college student, the taxi driver, and the "Flapper" (fashionable young woman). The bottom cartoon shows a traffic cop stopping a horse-drawn cart, titled "Hard-boiled Traffic Cop." This juxtaposes old-fashioned transportation with modern enforcement, satirizing how automobile regulations were becoming absurdly stringent even as society was transitioning from horses to cars. The overall tone criticizes both automotive entitlement and overzealous traffic policing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lifee To a Coddled Coupé Lines of Exasperation you pampered, petted, temperamental car, You upstart with your own importance smitten, You autocratic, automotive ezar, Demanding more attention than a kitten— Your needs we all must serve with fervent unction Before Your Highness even deigns to function. Such slaves as I must spend our days in toi And evenings to your many wants we cater; We slake your thirsty throat with engine oil And give you gas to feed your carburetor. At times when you grow obstinate we crank you, Without your even sparing us a thank you! “WAVE YOU HEARD THE News? 1's Gornc to Marry My little son is not so hard on shoes FREDDIE VAN DYKE.” (Although sometimes the raseal kicks a toe out) “put I THOUGHT YOU ALREADY HAD A HUSBAND.” But you, sweet-tempered wagon, always choose “ou—t TURNED Hie IN.” A rainy night to have your little blow-out. You helple: nass of shimmering resplendence— ! What They Expect in a Car Wake up! Achieve a little aay a —_ [iE SPEED-DEMON—Gangway! AT Bee ZAPPMGN The Family Man—An occasional chance at it. ‘ ‘ The Traffic Cop—No back-talk. Logical Deduction The College Man—Fifteen passengers. REDIT MANAGER: Do you own a car? The Taxi Driver—A forgotten wallet once in a while. Appiicant ror Crepit: No. The Flapper—Affection and respect. (Credit manager writes, “Has a car.”) A. M. S. SHEIK: I never knew what love was until now. THERE'S something about girls’ legs these days— Suena: Neither did 1, but this is about what I but it isn’t clothes. thought it . Hard-boiled Traffic Cop: come ON, BEN-HUR, THE ROMANS 18 GAININ’ ON YER. comicbooks.com