Life, 1904-03-03 · page 29 of 38
Life — March 3, 1904 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines reader letters praising Life's editorial independence with a major Victor Talking Machine Company advertisement. The **main cartoon** shows a phonograph labeled "Victor" at a hearing, with the caption "Only asks a hearing." The image depicts the machine as a defendant before judges, emphasizing that it merely needs to be heard to prove superior to competitors. The advertisement's central claim states that twelve judges at the Pan-American Exposition unanimously chose the Victor over all other talking machines. This references an actual 1901 exposition competition, positioning the Victor as scientifically superior. The satire is subtle but present: the ad presents the machine's selection as objective proof ("the world is the judge"), yet the real message is that consumers don't buy Victors because they haven't heard them compared directly to competitors—implying marketing, not actual superiority, drives purchasing. The page also contains reader testimonials praising Life's truth-telling and editorial courage, which contextualizes the Victor ad as itself an example of Life's trusted judgment and advertising standards.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
From Our Readers. LIFE are my schoolmaster in politics and my adviser—the one source from which I can get an accurate knowledge of what books are y reading and what plays are worth sceing. The refinement and dignity of your humor, coupled with yo eral good sense, makes Lire xorth having. ive Lire. Yours truly, W. WH New York, January 18, 1904 ITOR OF LIFE, m to address you. because of your request that subscribers shoul rite you a letter of approval regarding your work, | h to say to you that I heartily approve and} you in your work, s 1 have seen Lire since ary last em peculiar to the the stand ot each and everything that has dating from Jan world’s work, no matter should it, as it would seem at t on be a business m: * nce of many years in the world, Ib nd and respect you for it you to do any- thing that js truthful a that od work You ne Aa nd social wo ny false god exsed of the much to you or to anyone who We are constantly r t not do this, be not dot this out for themselves,” or, “I age to or that,” or, “T woe for it docs not seem wise of politic with t x on at present, g to con And [ will say, outside hat there ix no paper more pleasure, or one J to receiving more than Liry ense, this is typical of the real 1 knows no fear of life there is no thing ity of being. truth, as you general chem it seoms good. te b ut ix gol ene dari y. speaking the trut of my tro church pape that came to me brin nieus action and rea r. dar I feel that you must succeed RE. F. Poke Bri Medécat Journal tells a curious story at the expense of the French Acade- my of Medicine, which has recently moved to new quarters. On the place being cleaned, the room in which the Council used to hold its tings was found to bea kind of museum, ns of Paris dirt, collected in urse of many years. As a first step in the | process of purification the carpet, worn and heavy with the dust of ages, was taken up, when, the wonderment of the beholders, another wrpet, still more ragged and grimy, came into ew: under this was another, below that again a} fourth, and so on till some ten layers of mould carpet had been removed. Surely shake the public faith in the microbe b ining spec T any rate,” said Snappey, closing the | discussion, “I mind my own business.” No doubt that’s what makes you so narrow- minded,” replied Bitter.— Philadelphia Press. Only asks a hearing. The world is the judge and this is the verdict: “Only one machine talks and sings and plays perfectly. the Victor.” Then why does anybody ever buy any kind except the Mictor ? Because they don’t hear the Vicer in comparison, The twelve judges at the Pan-American Exposition heard all = machines and unanimously decided for the Victor, Languages Taught by the Victor. Send for catalogue to the U.S. School of Languages, 1127 Walaut, Philadelphia. Cincinnati—Rudotph Warlitzer Co. Lincotn—Wittmann C Grand Kavide—Jullus A.J. Priedeich, | New Haven Henry Horton. That's iengomTalking Machine Co, jectric Co. . Kansas City Schmelzer Se New Orloaiia—Satl_Auto. Fire Re Kiscnprandt Sons, §t.Louis—Victor Talking 3 Klein & Memfeiman Co. Ritait Co. ‘hier & Hin 7 & Hiro, Tutfalo—P. xp.Co, Tutfalo— W New York—. Bh 8 Deaver —Denver Siusie Co. Brookisn -American Talk. Meb. Co. Detrolt—Grinnell Bros Clovelans—Cleveland Talk. Neb, Co, Dabaque—Harger & Blish. Victor Talking Machine Company, Philadelphia. The original makers of the Gram-O-phone. “TF a gin cocktail tastes of gin—it’s notacock- tail.” If you really know a good cocktail—you know the one you mix never quite blends, GOLD LION Cocktails (ready to ice) never vary. GOLD LION Cocktails—Seven kinds — Manhattan, Vermouth, Whiskey, Martiot, Tom Gin, Dry Gin—ard the American Of good wine merchants. The Cook & Beroheimer Co, Makers New York comicbooks.com