Life, 1914-07-30 · page 7 of 40
Life — July 30, 1914 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate pieces: 1. **"Imaginary Conversations"** - A humorous dialogue between a boss and bookkeeper about salary increases, playing on workplace dynamics and economic concerns of the era. 2. **"Not a New Principle"** - An editorial commentary skeptical of recent wireless telephony announcements, suggesting such "miraculous" technologies don't require mysticism—implying skepticism toward overhyped technological claims. 3. **"He Believed in Signs"** - A cartoon illustration showing a road with trees and a directional sign. The humor appears to reference someone taking road signs literally or relying too heavily on signage for navigation—likely satirizing gullibility or blind obedience to instructions without independent thought. The page represents typical turn-of-century American satirical humor targeting workplace absurdities, technological hype, and human folly.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Imaginary Conversations “TS this the bookkeeper?” “Yes, sir.” ’ “I'm the head of the firm. I came in to ask you if you would accept an increase in your salary.” “No, sir! I'm getting too much as it is. You could get any number of men. to fill my place for half the money.” “But our profits are so great we don’t know what to do with them.” MIDSUMMER “Sorry; but to encourage me in that sort of thing would only result in dis- aster. Besides, if I got more money my family of nine children might get enough to eat. And if the practice should spread, the whole civic fabric would be upset.” “But I really feel—” “Go away, sir! I won't listen to you! Discharge me if you must, but raise my salary—never!” Not a New Principle HE recent announcement that the success of wireless telephony is now assured, and that we shall soon be able to talk over distances without any visible apparatus, should not neces- sarily be received with too much ela- tion. Materialistic mediums in many instances only appear to be necessary. For instance, many of us have long been able to think without brains. E BELIEVED 1N SIGNS comicbooks.com