Judge, 1914-06-06 · page 19 of 24
Judge — June 6, 1914 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page is primarily a **propaganda advertisement** for AT&T disguised as comparative satire. The central image contrasts American and European telephone infrastructure, claiming the U.S. has 10 phones per 100 people versus Europe's 1 per 100—promoting American technological superiority and capitalism's efficiency. The surrounding content is padding: jokes about trading stamps, puppies, and cannibals (typical period humor with little satirical bite). An ad for the "Studio of Pictorial Art" seeks student illustrators. **The satire's point**: AT&T implicitly mocks European systems as unreliable (closed during lunch/Sundays, "when your turn comes") while touting American "prompt service" and "reasonable rates." This reflects 1920s-era corporate boosterism—using comparative nationalism to justify monopoly control. Modern readers should note: this represents how corporations embedded advertising within entertainment media, framing commercial advantage as national/technological superiority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UNITED STATES EUROPE 100 People- 100 People 20 Houses 20 Houses 10 Telephones 1° Telephone Copyright, Mrgvendorfer Blaettor Adjustment ersonen einzuladen, Frida, ist aber wendung.”” “To invite twenty people, Frida, is certainly extravagance !"* “Not at all, Otto. Only just think how many trading stamps I get!'"’"—AMeg- “ paid i — - R esults Compar ed with Th eori es rt Here we have: There they have: ay : Ten telephones for each hun- One telephone for each hun- ae persons. dred persons. = Nearly one rural telephone Practically no telephones on to every two farms. the farms. | Reasonable rates fitted to Unreasonable rates arbitrarily the various needs of the whole made without regard to various people. needs of the whole people. Telephone exchanges open Telephone exchanges closed continuously day and night. during lunch hour, nights and Sundays. - I Policy—prompt service. Policy—when your tum comes. Oh, Moments Big as Years! When one puppy runs across the road to call on another dog.—Sketch (London) America’s Telephones Lead the World 5 with the Best Service at the Lowest Cost. AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES One Policy One System Universal Service Can You Draw? Develop your latent tafent as others have done under the expert guidance of men of international reputation, Some of America’s most noted illustrators will give their personal attention to your work. Because the system is so comprehensive and painstaking, only a limited number of students will be taken, If interested write immediately for particulars, A Poser “Dad, does a cannibal go to heaven?” ; “No, sonny. ‘ili cS Established 1903 172 Fifth Avenue, New York City But suppose he ate a missionary ?"’— Tatler (London). Studio of Pictorial Art comicbooks.com