Life, 1929-06-21 · page 6 of 40
Life — June 21, 1929 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not satirical content. It promotes "Davey Tree Surgeons," a tree care company, featuring a photograph of trees beside water and a portrait of founder John Davey (1848-1925). The advertisement's rhetorical strategy uses a quasi-satirical framing—the headline "There is no half-good in Tree Surgery" positions professional arboriculture as a serious, skilled trade requiring expertise comparable to medicine or blacksmithing. This appears designed to legitimize and professionalize tree care as a service. The text emphasizes that Davey's company employs trained specialists, operates across multiple regions (Canada to the Gulf), guarantees satisfaction, and charges only for actual work performed. There is no political satire or social commentary evident on this page—it is straightforward commercial advertising from the early 20th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Reproduction from a painting made onthe estate of John N, Willys, Center leland, Oyeter Boy, Long Island New York, by Prank SwiftChase ©The D.T. E.Co., tne., 1229 Among prominent persons and in- stitutions served by Davey Tree ‘Surgeons are thet following: LORADO TAFT GROSVENOR ATTERBURY LOUISE du PONT CROWNINSBIELD. TTUTI HAMMERMILL PAPER MPANY FRANK VANDERLIP» OMAHA COUNTRY CLUB INDIANA PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY JOHN DAVEY fee D'S Pa OBS There is no half-good in Tree Surgery You would not employ a blacksmith to treat your teeth nor a carpenter to operate on your body. How- ever expert they may be, they deal with inanimate objects and have no technical knowledge or skill with reference to the problems of living things. You must buy Tree Surgery service on faith. Liv- ing trees of any reasonable size are almost priceless. If they require attention you cannot take any chances. This is a highly specialized profession, requiring adequate scientific knowledge and high personal skill that can come only from thorough training under master Tree Surgeons. The Davey Company says to you all possible emphasis that there is no half-good in the treatment of trees. This statement is made after more than half acentury of experience by a national institution now doing a business of nearly $3,000,000 a year, and hav- ingin its employ more than a thousand real experts. And yet this reliable service costs less than any professional work in America. 76% of Davey clients pay less than $100 each. 21,608 clients were served last year—between Boston and Kansas City and from Canada to the Gulf. Furthermore, Davey Tree Surgeons are actually local to you. They are not sent to you from Obio for your individual work: they are trained in Ohio and are carefully supervised regularly, but they live and work in your vicinity. The Davey Company guarantees satisfactory service. You pay only for actual working time, plus the necessary materials and expressage. Your trees are certainly worth this reliable service. Write or wire Kent, Ohio, for address of nearest representative, who will examine your trees without cost or obligation. THE DAVEY TREE EXPERT CO., Inc., 237 City Bank Bldg., Kent, Ohio Branch alces with telephones: New York, S01 Fifth Ase. Phang Murray, Hill 1629: Hempstead, Lf Providence, R. 1., 36 Exchange Pl: Hartford, Bid ee City Sasings Bank Bldg. ; | King St; West; Philadel ‘Bank Bldg.; All is, Fl Chicago. Westminster See ‘Gurley Big. i Beechanie: Ba Send for local S rcontetin to palasedotors trees without cost or obligation DAVEY TREE SURGEONS Martin L. Davey, Ps comicbooks.com