Life, 1914-06-18 · page 32 of 44
Life — June 18, 1914 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **AT&T corporate advertising** disguised as social commentary, dated to the early 20th century (likely 1910s-1920s based on style). ## The Main Cartoon/Comparison The top illustration compares American versus European telephone infrastructure using symbolic house diagrams. It claims America has 10 telephones per 100 people with rural access and 24/7 service, while Europe has only 1 telephone per 100 people with limited hours. The message: American capitalism delivers superior service at lower cost. ## The Satire Ironically, the page itself contains **internal satire** attacking wealthy industrialists. The lower advertisement mockingly "wants" inventors to redirect millionaires' profit-seeking energy toward government service instead—clearly sarcastic commentary on the robber baron era. The closing section's rhetorical questions challenge readers about whether they're genuine community leaders or merely self-serving. ## Modern Context This represents aggressive corporate propaganda promoting American telephone monopoly dominance while the page's smaller satirical sections critique the very wealthy interests that AT&T represented—a contradictory message reflecting Progressive Era tensions between celebrating industrial achievement and condemning capitalist excess.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UNITED STATES 100 People 20 Houses 10 Telephones EUROPE 100 People 20 Houses 1 Telephone Results Compared with Theories Here we have: Ten telephones for each hun- dred persons. Nearly one rural to every two farms. Reasonable rates fitted to the various needs of the whole people. Telephone exchanges open continuously day and night. telephone Policy—prompt service. There they have: One telephone for each hun- persons, Practically no telephones on the farms. Unreasonable rates arbitrarily made without re to various needs of the whole people. Telephone exchanges closed during lunch, hour, nights and Sundays. Policy—when your tum comes. America’s Telephones Lead the World with the Best Service at the Lowest Cost. AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES One Policy One System Universal Service To Leading Men Only RE you a leading man in your community? Or did you merely get that reputation because the editor of the local newspaper is a friend of yours? Are you leading for your own sake or for somebody else’s sake? Do you lead all day or do you follow part of the time? Do you lead merely as to certain people, such as the office boy or the gardener or your Sunday-school, and follow as to ceftain other people, such as your wife or your wife’s mother or your eldest daughter or the man higher up or the man farther East or the political boss or your alter ego or your subliminal con- sciousness? Do you care to answer these questions or do you feel that the truth would tend to incriminate you? “wHy Is A caT?” Advertisement 'ANTED—An invention which will direct the motive power of the genius of multi-millionaires away from the process of accumulating dol- lars into the service of the govern- ment. Hard-working —multi-millionaires who are becoming tired of the con- tempt and scorn heaped upon them by the common people, are instructed to apply for a service job. The wages will be small but the results, it is be- lieved, will compensate them better for their time than at present. In Planning Your Vacation Don't forget that your outfit will not be complete without a set of Krementz Bodkin-Clutch Studs and Vest Buttons (With Cuff Links to Match) The Clutch is as well adapted to soft as to stiff bosom shirts—goes in lik: a needle, without mussing the button- hole—holds like an anchor till you're ready for it to let go Absolutely free from herher Made in inex”, jive sets—for ordin- ling—up to the finest mounted, set with Precious stones. Always perfect in style and of a quality obtainable only in a factory devoted exclusively to the manufacture of fine jewelry. A Bodkia-Clutch Booklet on request Krementz & Co. 60 Chestnut St., Nework, N. J. Makers of the famous Krements Collar Muttoas comicbooks.com e