Life, 1883-08-16 · page 11 of 16
Life — August 16, 1883 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "O.K." — A Satire on Telegraph Operators and Service Quality This "Popular Science Catechism" mocks the incompetence of Western Union telegraph operators circa the 1880s-90s. The joke: an expert Chicago operator sends a stock market message to New York, but the New York operator receives complete gibberish due to technical failure or operator error. The satire exposes that despite being paid professionals, these "experts" lack practical training—they studied at "college" but work for minimal salary while gaining unpaid "practice." The solution? Western Union doesn't improve service; instead, it raises rates by 3 cents and covers the cost with a postage stamp. The cartoon's absurdist conclusion—that important messages never reach destinations, yet telegraph companies thrive by slightly raising fees—critiques both operator incompetence and corporate indifference to customer service. The message "O.K." becomes ironic: nothing is actually okay.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
POPULAR SCIENCE CATECHISM. Lesson XI.—‘* O. K."” HAT ts this? This is the Lg I condition of 7 | things. i And what SN ts the “ con- dition of things?” O. K., my Seere precious. But I do not understand. Neither does the public, darling. Why? Ask Mr. Gould, dear. But who ts that nice young gentlemen on the right who ts so calmly at work? He is an expert Western Union operator in Chicago. What is he doing? He is sending an important telegram. What ts it? It reads thus: “Zo J.C. Bearem, Broad Street, New York: Close Lake Shore 106%, N. Y. Central 116, Western Union 77, buy 10,000 C. P. 69%. Signed, W. E. E. Lamb.” Well, who ts the gentleman on the left, who seems to be a little excited ? He is an expert Western Union operator in New York. What ts he doing? He is trying to receive the message from Chicago. Well? how is he getting it? He gets it thus: “ Danie tsurw Beieed vlrot, New York : Cleez kke Ipeez anlpeanl 2, N. Y. Iokrw 116, Anstern Union mimi, bidi anllll C. P. 6 dl aulht. Signed, W. O. Twms.” My ! isn't that funny? Very, my darling. What does the poor expert in New York think of it? If you listen, you will hear him tell the expert in Chicago, as soon as he can get control of the wire. But I thought you said the poor expert in Chicago was sending the message? So he is. Then what is the meaning of that pied type essay which the poor New York expert ts receiving ? That is what Ae would like to know. How will he find out? By sending a message to the Chicago expert. What will the message be? It will be this: “—1!**!?, ** [ GUD PA Ses lemme BL let ile Gracious ! what will the poor Chicago expert think? He will think it means that his message has been received “O. K.,” and that the New York expert is congratulating him on his rapid progress. ripereee > LIFE: 81 My ! and what will he do then? Send another important message. But at this rate the important messages will never reach their destination? Oh, yes. How? Well, the, the precau- tion of send- ing one copy by mail, one : ih by registered letter, and one by slow freight. " But why cannot the experts send and receive the messages? They have not been long enough in the business. Have they had no previous practice? Yes, darling. Where? Ata “college.” My! and are they not paid a large salary by the Western Union now? Well, no ; they take out their salary in “ practice.” But will not the Western Union do any thing for them in the future? Certainly. What? Double their “ practice.” But does not the Western Union handle some very im- portant business ? ae At certain intervals—yes. How can it send the telegrams without operators? By slightly increasing its tariff. How? Well, it used to charge $2.50 for a message to San Francisco. Well? Now it charges $2.53. But what ts the extra 3 cents for? The postage stamp, dear. ETCHINGS. I. Miss Fairy, to a hammock’s joys resigned, Forgot to notice Charley's arm behind Till her wicked young sister Remarked, as he kissed her, “A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind.” 8 8 © & 8 8 8 © II. MELEESHA MELCHIZEDEK MOsE, While dressed in her outréest clothes, Placed her lofty French heel On a fresh orange peel And reclined on her Israelite nose. comicbooks.com