Life, 1916-06-15 · page 42 of 48
Life — June 15, 1916 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct elements: **"A Tactful Child"** (top): A brief humorous anecdote about a neglected child guest who, ignored during dessert, sarcastically holds up her empty plate asking if anyone wants a "clean plate"—a pointed, polite rebuke of the hostess's inattention. The joke relies on the child's understated wit. **"Forty-one Years of Telephone Progress"** (center): A corporate advertisement from AT&T celebrating the telephone's 41st anniversary (dating from 1875). It includes images of the original 1875 telephone and a 1916 "country-wide system," framing telephony as a civilizing achievement. The text presents the Bell System's self-congratulatory narrative about serving public needs and earning public goodwill. **Mary Garden Perfume advertisement** (right): A fragrance ad claiming the scent "varies with the personality of the user"—adapting differently for blondes, brunettes, and redheads, supposedly enhancing each woman's natural characteristics. The bottom cartoon shows children making faces, unrelated to the perfume. The page is primarily **advertising-driven**, with one brief satirical anecdote amid commercial content typical of early 20th-century *Life* magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Good for Two Generations The Krements 14 Kt. Rolled Gold Plate Collar Button you buy to-day will last a life Tt cannot break muttons are made of one pieco of metal. All exposed partsare 14Kt.Gold 25c each Sold with this guarantees “If damaged from ANY CAUSE, anew button free.” Write for booklet. A Tactful Child Little Charlotte accompanied her mother to the home of an acquaintance. When the dessert course was reached the little girl was brought down and given a place next to her mother at the table. The hostess was a woman much given to talking, and quite forgot to give little Charlotte any- thing to eat. After some time had elapsed Charlotte could bear it no longer. With the sobs rising in her throat, she held up her plate as high as she could and said: “ Does anybody want a clean plate? "—Argonaut, 1916 The Country-wide System Forty-one Years of Telephone Progress The faint musical sound of a plucked spring was electrically carried from one room to another and recog- nized on June 2, 1875. That sound was the birth-cry of the telephone. The original instrument—the very first telephone in the world—is shown in the picture above. From this now-historic instru- ment has been developed an art of profound importance in the world’s civilization. At this anniversary time, the Bell System looks back on forty-one years of scientific achievement and eco- nomic progress, and gives this ac- count of its stewardship: It has provided a system of com: | munication adequate to public needs and sufficiently in advance of ex- isting conditions to meet all private demands or national emergencies. It has made the telephone the most | © economical servant of the people for social and commercial intercourse. It has organized an operating staff loyal to public interests and ideals; | and by its policy of service it has won | the appreciation and good will of the people. | With these things in mind, the | Bell System looks forward with con- | fidence to a future of greater oppor- tunity and greater achievement. AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES One System Universal Service perfumes,varies with the personality of the user With a BLOND, it recalls honeysuckle, tuberose—or is it jonquil or hyacinth? And around the BRUNETTE and TITIAN types it creates a fragrant atmosphere of dark red roses and recalls the gorgeous bloom of the Pagoda tree of the Burmese temples, or the wonder- ful Ylang and Champa flowers. Evenwithtwo Brunettes, theodordiffers, according to the personality of the user. Mary Garden Perfume accentuates the temperamental characteristics of every woman, In warm weather, Mary Garden Cold Cream, Toilet Water, Face Powder and Talcum, must be used by all with social ambitions. Rigaud Master Perfumer Paris “wow! GYP AN’ I WERE TRYING TO SEE WHICH COULD MAKE THE WORST FACES. AN’ HE won!”