Life, 1910-06-23 · page 35 of 40
Life — June 23, 1910 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features reader letters to *Life* magazine, including a pointed critique of railroad executive Charles Mellen's dismissal of commuters. The writer references a recent *Life* cartoon called "Which Was Right?" (not visible here) that apparently depicted a rail safety or fare dispute. The letter sarcastically highlights Mellen's documented statement that he wishes he had "no commuters" and would prefer they use other routes—yet charges them inconsistent fares ($1.00 from New York to New Haven, but only 75¢ returning). The satire's point: Mellen's logic is absurd. He publicly resents the passengers his railroad depends on, admits the company loses money on them, yet extracts what profit he can through rate manipulation. The writer notes these commuters are voters in suburban towns (New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Rye), suggesting political consequences for such arrogant monopoly behavior. This reflects Progressive Era frustration with railroad companies' unchecked power and contempt for the public.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE: Crouch & - “ Fitzgerald [he Mudevarex 4 154 Fifth Avenue N.W, Cor. 22th St. In every line of endeavor some one product stands out distinctly because of its character— its unquestioned superiority. In the automobile field that product is the STUDEBAKER “ 40.” It is character that distinguishes the STUDEBAKER “ 40 "—the combination of weli-bal- anced qualities—the possession of every feature desirable in any car—but not the over- development of any single feature at the expense of another. No name in the entire vehicle world is better known than STUDEBAKER. Certainly no name stands for higher quality, for greater integrity. All the STUDEBAKER experience of over half a century, all the force of vast organiza- tion, the most eminent engineering talent, the greatest manufacturing skill, are concentrated in this car. We know the STUDEBAKER-GARFORD “40” to be the most consistently designed, the most dependable of all automobiles, because there is more engineering experience behind it than any other make. ‘ 177 Broadway 723 Sixth Avenue, N. Y. Atove Cortlandt Below Forty.Second Trunks, Bags and Cases Which Was Right? Eprtor oF Lire. Dear Sir:—Anent “Which Was Right,” what was the verdict of the jury? Contributory negligence for riding on the New York, New Haven & Hartford road? A parlor car ticket from New York to New Haven costs $1.00. A seat in the parlor car from New York to Springfield will cost you $1.00, but from Springfield to New York the price is 75 cents. The other day Mr. Mellen told the protesting commuters that he wished he had no commuters; that the road lost money by carrying them, and he would be better off if they used some other road, and ended his logic by saying: “If I could, I would not Roomy, comfortable, luxurious, extremely low in cost of maintenance —the STUDEBAKER “40” is the car that any man is glad and proad to own—the car of character. Our literature contain, exhaustive technical descri You will als i f the “Motorist’s Log Book"* tion of this car. Send for it and compare the STUDE- (with maps) describing an actual tour through France BAKER “40” construction with any other. Address Spain and Italy in a STUDEB, at a car cost of Dept. F. '$3.80—less than one cent per hundred miles for repairs. STUDEBAKER AUTOMOBILE CO. {2:crs<:,, $a SOUTH BEND, IND. “Licensed Under Selden Patent’ The Egyptian Cigarette ———— of Quality AROMATIC DELICACY MILDNESS PURITY 2 At your club or dealer’s THE SURBRUG CO., Makers, New York. stop a train from the Connecticut line to the Grand Central Station.” I suppose there are voters in New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and Rye. Are there? Yours sincerely, BF. J. June 1, 1910. An Invitation Dear Lire: I am an admirer of both your wit and your wisdom. I do not always agree with your idea of either, but this will not make you unhappy since you are, of course, the last always to desire agreement on the part of your readers. Moreover, my sense of hu- mor is sufficient ordinarily to divide (or to multiply) your wit and your wisdom when necessary to catch your (Continued on page 1164) comicbooks.com