Life, 1922-12-28 · page 2 of 37
Life — December 28, 1922 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising copy**, not a political cartoon. It's an editorial message from Life's advertising manager explaining how modern business practices have transformed distribution and sales. The title "Discounting the Count" is a pun: it plays on the obsolete position of a "Count" (a feudal overlord managing 500 people) to argue that such hierarchical business structures are outdated. Modern transportation, sales methods, and advertising have "broken the shackles of time," allowing simultaneous nationwide product distribution. The piece positions Life's advertisements as a "truthful catalog of needed merchandise" that guides consumers. The message ends with "Gee. Bee. Are." (an acronym for the advertising managers listed below). This reflects 1920s optimism about mass marketing and national commerce replacing older commercial systems.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Entered as Second Class Matter June 8, 1883, at the Post Ofice at New York, Live: ‘Published Weekly by Life Publishing N. ¥., under tho act of March 3d, 1879. Printed in Bethlehem, y Company at 598 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. Entered as Second Class Maiter at ‘the Post Office at Bethlehem, Grorce B. Annual Subscription, Five Dollars. Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office Department, Can: Li 80 1922, Copyright, 1922, LIFE, in tho United States, England and tho British "Possessions. B. F. Provanpte, Western Manager December 28, CHantes DANA GrBson. President RICHARDSON, Vice-Piesident Ror MILLER, ‘Treasurer Discounting the Count Aroest used to be a man in charge of a count of 500 persons to whom he was a sort of overlord. This is not true today because of altered political conditions. We still have Counts, but the Count business has changed somewhat. Business, of all kinds, has undergone something of a revolution. It was not so many years ago that pack ped- dlers were the sole distributors and transporters of many of the household articles of the day. Their legs set the limits for most distribution problems in those days. Modern transportation, progressive sales methods— and advertising—have broken the shackles of time. They make a speedy job of what used to take years. Through advertising many an article has been introduced simul- taneously in stores all over the country. Advertising today is the method used by business to tell you why you should have certain goods and how to identify those goods. The advertisements you find here are a truthful catalog of needed merchandise. Articles of all kinds and for all purposes are presented in a pleasant way through the medium of type and picture. The outstanding requirements of every member of the family are met by offers of good merchandise of proved value. Use the advertisements for guidance and you will be a constant gainer. Gee. Bee. Are. LIFE’S Advertising Manager, Madison Avenue, No. 598, New York B. F. Provandie, Western Manager, Marquette Bldg., 1537, Chicago Gordon Simpson, West Coast Representative, Wright-Callender Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif. comicbooks.com