Life, 1913-11-20 · page 36 of 44
Life — November 20, 1913 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a **corporate advertisement** for American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) disguised as public service messaging. The cartoon titled "Living Expenses Up / Telephone Rates Down" uses a visual metaphor—various household costs (meat, coal, rent, clothing) climbing upward on a train track while telephone rates descend—to argue that telephone service is exceptionally affordable compared to other necessities. The ad claims that while food, fuel, and clothing costs rose 49% since 1895, telephone rates dropped over 50%, and service quality improved five-fold. This is **corporate propaganda**: AT&T presents itself as a benevolent monopoly serving the public interest through efficient organization. The page also includes a **humorous anecdote** about a boy whose mother drowned kittens he wanted to drown himself, and a **book review** in verse about a romance novel involving class differences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CLOTHING Economy of the Bell System Consider this significant fact: While most of the necessaries of life have gone up, the price of telephone service, which is one of the essential factors in our commercial and social life, has moved steadily downward. Although a pound of these neces- sities still contains but sixteen ounces, the telephone user has been petting more and more service for less money. On the avernee the people of this country pay 49% more today for food, fuel and clothing than they did in 1895. Since then, the decrease in the average rates for telephone ser- vice has been more than one-half. AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY. At fhe same time, the efficiency and value of the service to the sub- scriber -has vastly increased. Today he can talk to an average of five times as many persons in each exchange as he could eighteen years ago. This is the inevitable result of the comprehensive policy of the Bell System, which brings together the associated Bell companies and the communities they serve. Through the very size and effi- ciency of their organization they accomplish improvements and effect economies which give the greatest service at the lowest rates. AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES One Policy _ SEE WHAT'S COME TO Lire! One System _ Universal Service “Wuat's the matter, little boy?” “M—maw’s gone an’ drowned all the kittens.” “Dear, dear! Now that's too bad.” “Yep, an’ she p—promised—boo-hoo— that I cud do it!"—Everybody’s. Rhymed Reviews The Business of Life (By Robert W. Chambers. D. Apple- ton & Co.) AMES DESBORO—that sounds all J right, But—yes, it is!—Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh!— The regulation, grand, polite, Wild, wicked, wealthy Chambers Hero! {n sweet Westchester’s fairest vale (“Westchester” nearly wrecks my scansion), This handsome, predatory male Possessed a fine ancestral mansion, ‘Twas full of armor coats—the fruits Of other Desboros’ endeavors ; To catalogue those iron suits The owner summoned wise Miss Nevers. Her hair was bright as morning’s ray; And, though in Trade, the winsome charmer Bewitched our gallant’s heart away While demonstrating styles in armor. He won her love; he pledged his hand To her, in spite of all that severs A Personage of Station, and A chit like Jacqueline—Miss Nevers, (But then the girl had made a stir; Our hero’s comrades, moved to pas- sion, Had each and all proposed to her, And James was bound to be in fash- ion). They wed in haste at morning-tide, And quietly; the hero fearing Lest folks should scare his promised bride By telling things well worth her hearing. His caution proved of slight avail: A shameless married lady boldly Disclosed to Jacqueline a tale Which made her treat her husband coldly. But while the new-caught husband lacked A reputation worth defending, comichooks,