Life, 1919-07-31 · page 38 of 40
Life — July 31, 1919 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct humorous pieces: **"Zones" (top left):** A three-panel joke showing how the definition of "zone" changes depending on who's asked. A teacher defines it geographically (climate-based), a streetcar conductor defines it by fare collection, and a postmaster defines it as a postal-rate area. The satire mocks how bureaucratic "zones" are created primarily to increase costs for citizens—making travel and mailing more expensive—rather than serving practical purposes. The final quote suggests frustration with this pattern. **"Efficiency?" (center-right):** A brief office humor piece where a new accountant tracks every phone call's purpose during a 44-hour week, assigning costs. The joke satirizes excessive cost-accounting and time-tracking in modern business, showing how obsessive efficiency metrics can become absurd when applied to mundane workplace activities like employee socializing or the boss buying supplies. Both pieces reflect early-20th-century anxieties about expanding bureaucracy and corporate "scientific management" intruding into daily life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Zones a zone?” I asked as a “Tt is a geographical division,” Replied the teacher, * Based on climatic conditions. There are many zones—the torrid, the frigid, the temperate. You live in the temperate zone.” “What is a zone?” I asked as a man, Only a few years ag “It is the distance between certain Replied the car conductor, Who represented the electric-car line “There are many zones, Because a fare must he paid in cach one It makes travel more expensive You live in the fifth zone from town.” “What is a zone?” I asked very re- cently. “It is an area created to increase postal rates,” Replied the postmaster, Kepresenting Burleson “It makes mailing very expensive.” loesn’t do any good to hurry unless you have something to do when you get there.—Topeka (Kan.) Capital. THE STANDARD Ginger Ale OF TWO CONTINENTS Order by the dozen for use at home Waterman's Ideal Efficiency? NEW accountant was recently in- stalled in our office. He imme- diately put everything on a time and cost basis. He has just finished wres- tling with the telephone, and this is the way he figures out its distribution of service in a forty-four-hour week : H. OM. Contributors asking why their manuscript was not accepted. 12 Sadie, the blond. stenographer. making dates for trips to Coney Island ... ase Readers threatening suit for libel eaeee sence Bobbie, the office boy, inquiring about the baseball scores... Advertisers offering rugs, paint- ings, mousetraps, face cream, mining stock and collar but- tons in e ge for space.. The boss buying one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of paper Grateful CLERK Can you let me off to- morrow afternoon? My wife wants me to go shopping with her. Emptoyer: Certainly not. We are much too busy. Currk: Thank you very much, sir You are very kind Exclusive For eas>~ ~writing and writi it easily Hetel Champlain Bluff Point-on-(ake ChomplainX HE. summer ren iervous of people of cuber a finement, magnificently placed on the begs pa of Lake Champlain, Tennis, 18-hole golf coun ing, fishing, historic motor trips, every please eda can Plan, Management Mr. J. P. Gem ja East Coast Hotels, Booklet on requen. Me Booking Office, 243 Fifth Avenue. | wore CHAMPLAIN, Bluff Point-on-Lake Chama Havano Cigar MADE IN BOND U.S. OUARANTEE aN READ THE WHITE STAMP ON CACH BOx— STANDS " “Cuesta-ReEy; TAMPA — since soa - pil “HAVANA Distracted Brother (left in chat AW! THEY OUGHT TO SEND A Book STRUCTIONS WITH THESE THINGS. PETER J. CAREY, PRINTER comicbooks.conmil