Life, 1910-10-27 · page 43 of 44
Life — October 27, 1910 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, not editorial content or satire. It contains an argumentative advertisement for *Success Magazine* disguised as editorial commentary. The opening essay uses an analogy: just as a businessman who builds a factory but fails to advertise it would be foolish, so too are cities that improve infrastructure, enact good laws, and elect capable leaders yet fail to publicize these achievements to attract capital and labor. The essay advocates for **municipal and state advertising**—promoting cities and states to potential investors, workers, and residents. This reflects Progressive Era (early 1900s) thinking about civic promotion and business-like city management. The advertisement then positions *Success Magazine* as the ideal vehicle for such promotion, claiming 350,000 readers of quality and "four-square" (honest, straightforward) advertising standards. It promises to send data showing results from Dallas, San Antonio, Memphis, Portland, and Winnipeg—cities that allegedly benefited from advertising in the magazine. There is no cartoon or satire visible; this is straightforward promotional content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TELL THE WORLD ABOUT IT E would hold a poor opinion of the business man who, after investing his money in a large industrial plant; after equipping it with modern machinery; after engaging the services of expert employees; after purchasing his raw materials; after converting those materials into finished products—one would hold a poor opinion of that man, we say, if, after doing all these things, he failed to tell the world about his wares, and neglected to make an effort to draw the great buying public to his door. What shall we say of the city that, after placing its government upon a high plane; after cleaning and improving its streets and alleys; after perfecting its public utilities; after erecting fine buildings; after enacting good laws and electing good men to enforce those laws—what shall we say of the city that goes so far toward municipal idealism, and yet fails to tell the world about what it has to offer to capital and labor; about its homes, its civic advantages, its general residential and commercial opportunities? OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIES AND STATES Many of the progressive cities of the United States purposes; capitalists in search of investment oppor- have found new capital, new industries, new residents— tunities; high class laborers seeking employment in new LIFE—through advertising intelligently done. cites where civic attainments are large and in states And, taking example from what municipalities have | where educational advantages are superior; progressive accomplished in this way, the chief executives and = men, THINKING men—these are the ones to approach energetic citizens of various states are engaged in or in municipal or state advertising, and if the case be making preparations for similar campaigns. made in forceful form, if every claim be substantiated The importance of presenting such propositions to || in fact, then the results of such advertising are bound to the right kind of people is evident. Men having serious |; be profitable to a satisfying degree. A Magazine That is Read in the Homes of 350,000 People who APPRECIATE and can USE Municipal and State Opportunities is SUCCESS FOUR-SQUARE ADVERTISI WE WILL SEND HELPFUL DATA The duty of the city or state that advertises—like the duty of the individual advertiser who would pay the obligation he owes To all who are interested in community or s to himself and the public at large—is to tise media that are Four- will be glad to send a pamphict showing what ‘ Squmee ZINE has done for every municipality that has used its columns, By this is meant those media which not only reack a large body of desirable “prospects,” but which admit. to their columns no These data will recount the experiences of Dallas, San Antonio, advertising ist Cul have cect Ts a Memphis, Portland, Winnipeg and other places, showing the results TGS Of Henna le le tee nriana flee upon noun obtained from the use of this Four-Square medium, their readers against loss by fraudulent advertisements which may creep in against the most d ations If you are not now one of the 350,000, a sample copy of SUCCE 5 PSHUaRE FaeIR. Ue. Lethe MAG . which is yours for the asking, will show you why pts only clean, straightforward advertising. The qual it is a publication that is read by the kind of people you want to ity of its circulation is high and the standard of its advertising is draw to your city or your state. upon a corresponding plane. It reaches 350,000 men and women who are interested in the things that cities and states are doi We will be pleased, also, to send you SUCCE! ZINE for their betterment and in the opportunities which those cities facts, figures, circulation statements, advertising rates, and other and states. present. valuable information. FRANK E. MORRISON Sl ICCESS MAGA 7 INE Advertising Manager HARRY T. EVANS, Western Advertising Manager, Home Insurance Buliding, CHICAGO THE WILLIAMS PRINTING COMPANY comicbooks.com