Life, 1912-02-15 · page 43 of 44
Life — February 15, 1912 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct items: **The Poem**: A classical parable about a ragged poet who presents an ornately decorated manuscript to Alexander (the Great). The king criticizes the poet's poverty—why hasn't he enriched himself? The poet argues labor has its proper sphere: his job is composing noble thoughts; the king's is rewarding merit with gold and honors. Alexander, impressed, grants the poet fine clothes. **The Advertisement**: The Bell Telephone company uses the U.S. Census Bureau's concept of "center of population" (Bloomington, Indiana) as a metaphor for their service. Just as every citizen is equidistant from this theoretical center, every Bell telephone is equally "central" to the system. The pitch emphasizes universal access and "One System, One Policy"—corporate consolidation language designed to justify Bell's monopoly dominance. The juxtaposition suggests Life's editorial interest in both classical wisdom about merit and contemporary anxieties about concentrated corporate power.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Poet and Alexander To Alexander came a man in garb with attered fold, Lringing a poem splendidly adorned with silk and gold The hing demands: “ Why hast thou not unio thy body lent Some of the pains upon this manuscript so largely spent?” The poet says: “The law of labor is, that cach must strive At his appropriate trade, if he would honor it and thrive. It is my work majestic thoughts to clothe in fit. ‘ But honor’s robes—the king knows how to cut and give away I here have set thee forth in lasting praise and fame enrolled, And left it unto thee for this to have me dressed in gold.” Amidst his loud-applauding courtiers, Alexander bade The bard at on garments to be clad! —Poetry of the Orient by W. R. Alger. Books Received He Comes Up Smiling, by Charles Sherman. (Bobbs Merrill Co., Indianap- olis, Ind. $1.25.) ¢ Higher Court, by Mary Stewart tt. (R. G. Badger, Boston, Mass. $1.00.) Social Historians, by Harry Aubrey n. Jr. CR. G. Badger, Boston, in gold embroidered Paris are the proven best. The genuine have the name PARIS on each garter, A.STEIN & CO.~ CHICAGO, U.S.A. From a Photograph Showing the Last Step tn Locating the Exact Center of Population of the United States. “The Center of Population” A Title that Fits Every Bell Telephone From the census of 1910 it is found that the center of population is in Bloomington, Indiana, latitude 39 degrees 10 minutes 12 seconds north, and longitude 86 degrees 32 minutes 20 seconds west. “Tf all the people in the United States were to be assembled in one place, the center of population would be the point which they could reach with the mini- mum aggregate travel, assuming that they all traveled in direct lines from their residence to the meeting place.” —U. S. Census Bulletin. This description gives a word picture of every telephone in the Bell system. Every Bell telephone is the center of the system. | AMERICAN One Policy It is the point which can be reached with “the minimum aggregate travel,” by all the people living within the range of telephone transmission and having access to Bell telephones. Wherever it may be on the map, each Bell telephone is a center for purposes of intercommunication. To make each telephone the center of communication for the largest number of people, there must be One System, One Policy and Universal Service for a country of more than ninety million. TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ASSOCIATED .COMPANIES One System Universal Service Mrs, Drummond's Vocation, by Mark Ryce. (Wil 0.) The Confessions and Letters of Ter- cnce Quinn McManus, by Myles G. Hyde. (R. G. Badger, Boston, Mass. $1.00.) " by the Wall, by Kate er McKinney. (R. G. Badger, The Prophet of Florence, by Mary Putnam Denny, (R. G. Badger, Boston, Mass. $1.00.) On the Face of the Waters, by Grace LL. Slocum (R. G Mass.) Badger, Boston, THE WILLIAMS PRINTING COMPANY, NEW YORK agua, (R.G Music and Morals, by H. R. Haweis (Harper & Brothers. $1.75.) Sunlight and light. by Henry G Kost. (R. G by Clara Mai Howe Fu- Sadger, Boston, Mass.) , Boston, Mass.) Christopher, by Richard Pryce (Houghton, Mifflin Co. $1.35.) Game Laws in Brief for 1912. (For- est & Stream Publishing Co, New York 25 cents.) To-Morron Play in Three Acts) hy Perey kaye (Frederick A Stokes Co. comicbooks.com