Life — May 31, 1928 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page **"The Call of the Open Road"** (top cartoon) depicts an early automobile with passengers, satirizing the automobile craze and leisure travel emerging in early 20th-century America. The jovial mood captures optimism about modern transportation's freedom. **"Keeping the Party Pure: Mr. Meeks Gives a Congressman Back His Cigar"** (bottom cartoon) shows a magician or illusionist making a cigar disappear while a congressman watches in amazement. This appears to satirize political corruption or bribery—the "cigar" likely representing a bribe or improper gift. The joke suggests a magician can make illicit gifts vanish, keeping politics ostensibly "pure" while corruption continues invisibly. The cartoon critiques political hypocrisy regarding ethical standards.