Judge, 1891-09-05 · page 15 of 18
Judge — September 5, 1891 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not political satire but a commercial advertisement** for Williams' Barbers' Soap, published in *Judge* magazine. The illustration shows a barber applying soap to a customer's head and face. The ad promotes the product's benefits for scalp health, particularly emphasizing its ability to stop itching and treat dandruff—common grooming problems of the era. The text stresses the soap's superior lather, its gentle formulation (compared to liquid preparations), and its healing properties for irritated skin. The phrase "Ask your Barber to try it—or try it yourself" encourages both professional and personal use. The ad concludes by warning against cheap, inferior shaving soaps, positioning Williams' as a premium, genuine product. This represents typical early 20th-century advertising strategy: endorsement through trusted professionals (barbers, druggists) and emphasis on scientific benefits for common ailments.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| \AfILLIAMS Soap STOPS THE ITCHING. WILLIAMS’ SOAP.” YOU will find the pleasure of being shampooed greatly increased if you will ask your Hair-dresser to use WILLIAMS’ BARBERS’ SOAP. The lather is just like thick, soft, delicious cream. Instead of drying and cracking the hair it softens it—makes it bright and glossy. It is neat too. Does not run down the neck and face when applied, as the liquid preparations do. It has a rich, creamy body and stays where it's put, After the shampoo the hair brushes easily, and stays in place. It is, however, in its effect upon the Sca/f that its chiefest virtue lies. It is the most delicate and most beneficial Sén Soap in the world. CLEANSING— ¥ It softens the skin, loosens the dandruff and removes it, together with all dust. HEALING— Just as sweet cream heals— gently, yet effectively; stops the itching, heals irritated spots, starts the hair in rich, healthy growth. REFRESHING— Cools the head, allays the fever caused by the irritation of the scalp; the itching stops because the cause is removed. Ask your Barber to try it—and prove it—or éry #¢ yourself. [ N'ist 20m it that your Rarber use WittzaMs’ SoAr—for shaving. ‘The great cure and the sure preventive of Banners’ ITcit and kindred skin diseases. Beware of cheap, impure shaving soaps. They cause disease. Have your Barber use WILLIAMS’. Buy a pound package (6 cakes) and try it yourself for Tor.et and BATH use—and for SHAMPOOING. Used and for sale by all first-class Barbers, All Druggists keep it, ‘The praises of Wi1.LIAMs' famous GxNUINE YANKEE SHAVING Soap are sung in every town, village and hamlet throughout the civilized world, THE J. B. WILLIAMS CO., GLASTONBURY, CONN., U. 8. A. comicbooks.com