This comic postcard illustrates how the telephone facilitated marital evasions.

In 1908, less than 10% of households had a telephone.

Ownership of a phone was correlated to income, the newness of the home, and proximity to other phones.

In the early 20th century, few highways were lined with telephone poles, and homes had to have wires installed from the poles.

Here, a dapper young man uses the hand-held phone at the tavern.

Our hero is surrounded by other well-dressed men wearing hats and long coats.

The man reports that he will be home late as there is a “special meeting of the Bar Associates.”

This message is literally true, although highly misleading.

The postcard was copyright in 1908 by P. Sanders of New York, a prolific publisher of comic postcards.

The artist responsible for this elegant and spare drawing is not identified.

The postcard was not mailed, but was likely stored in an album by an avid postcard collector.