Judge, 1912-08-03 · page 19 of 26
Judge — August 3, 1912 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several short humorous stories (common in Judge) followed by a substantial advertisement for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. The stories—"In the Wrong Berth," "Xanthippe's Jest," and "The Economist"—are domestic humor pieces with no political content. They joke about marital discord, defective stockings, and penny-pinching, relying on wordplay and situation comedy familiar to the era. The AT&T advertisement is the page's significant content. Titled "Message Bearers Ancient and Modern," it compares ancient Greek runners (Pheidippides) and royal messengers to the modern telephone system. The advertisement argues that the telephone democratizes rapid communication—once available only to rulers for urgent matters, now accessible to "the humblest day laborer" at affordable rates. The Bell System's reach of seven million connected users and twenty-five million daily calls is presented as evidence of progress and social benefit. This is essentially corporate propaganda dressed as historical commentary, celebrating American technological advancement and capitalist expansion during the telephone system's growth period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
> you overs Some- em to t will little first twin r hus- think r their gy and vith it. » good | Susie ernoot and her mother is passing it out that Sasie can keep on riding permanent in the buggy if she wants to, but we all know Hannah Beane. “The spotted calf you admired so much the last time you was at home is now quite a cow and I think of you every time I look at her. She gives more milk than any other young cow we ever had and she is going to be a fine batter maker. A man withone of these snapshot photograph things come along the other day and took a picture of her and your father which I will send you, although your father has on only his everyday clothes. All well with us and hope these few lines will find you the same. J. Le Harbour. In the Wrong Berth. The long train of Pullman sleepers was rushing toward New York with its loads of human freight. It was still early and only a few of the passengers were astir. A china salesman in one of the lowers was awakened by a commo- tion at the curtains of the berth above him. A moment later a bare foot was thrust through the opening and placed upon the edge of his bed. A woman’s woice spoke in angry accents. “Look there, John! [ bought those stockings yesterday at Hunter's for twenty-five cents a pair and they guar- anteed them not to crock. I'm going to send them back. Just see my foot !”" In some bewilderment the drummer bebeld for an instant a dainty foot upon which the discoloration was unmistak- able. “Madam, "’ he said, ‘‘the crocks belong on the shelf across the aisle."’ Xanthippe’s Jest. Xanthippe had just darned her hus- band’s sixtieth sock. “Heig! ’ she said wearily, ‘‘I see now why they call you Sockrates!"” It was that afternoon that the great Philosopher uncomplainingly drained the bemlock cup to the dregs. The Economist. “Ef your feet hurt ye so much, Silas,”” said Mrs. Weevey, ‘why on airth don't ye wear them shoes ye bought down to Bosting Inst summer that ye said was so comf’table?"” “Why, Mirandy,’’ said Silas, ‘‘ef I Wore them there shoes I'd wear 'em out, and then I wouldn't have nothin’ t’ fall back on.”” The political horoscope would be much clearer if all the candidates were not so Sure of their success. jo celey Pheidippides, the most noted runner of ancient Greece, made a record and an ever- lasting reputation by speeding 140 miles from Athens to Sparta in less than two days. Runners trained to perfection composed the courier service for the transmission of messages in olden times. But the service was so costly it could be used only in the interest of rulers on occasions of utmost importance. The Royal messenger of ancient times has given way to the democratic telephone of to-day. Cities, one hundred or even two thousand miles apart, are connected in a few seconds, so that message and answer follow one another as if two persons were talking in the same room. Message Bearers Ancient and Modern This instantaneous telephone service not only meets the needs of the State in great emergencies, but it meets the daily needs of millions of the plain people. There can be no quicker service than that which is everywhere at the command of the humblest day laborer. Inventors have made possible communica- tion by telephone service. The Bell System, by connecting seven million people together, has made telephone service so inexpensive that it is used twenty-five million times a day. Captains of war and industry might, at great expense, establish their own exclusive tele- phone lines, but in order that any person hav- ing a telephone may talk with any other per- son having a telephone, there must be One System, One Policy and Universal Service. AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES . Every Bell Gelephone is the-Center of the System SSSA million in the past thirty-two years. oF or Liquor and Drug Users A scientific remedy that has cured nearly half a Administered by medical specialists at Keeley Institutes only. Write for particulars To the Following Keeley Institutes: Jacks Atlanta. Ga, Kansas City. Mo. St Laule, Mo, tant Locust St Pittebare, Wa. «tus Fifth Lv. lence 16 Manchester. Provid. fralo. N.Y. White Plains. 8. ¥. Cotambas, Obie Port Columbia. § SaitTane city, Utab, Toronto. Ontaria, Winnipeg. Manitoba, jand. Ore. Pailadelpbla Pa. 818N. Broad St London. Eneland In answering advertisements please mention JUDGE. It will be appreciated. comicbooks.com