Judge, 1893-04-01 · page 18 of 18
Judge — April 1, 1893 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It appears in *Judge* magazine as a paid advertisement for Woodbury's Facial Soap and related products. The illustration shows a barber shop scene: a woman in a chair receives treatment while a male barber works, suggesting the soap's universal appeal. The ad copy uses grandiose language ("'Tis not in Mortals to Command Success'") to claim the soap eliminates complexional defects, dandruff, and skin problems through "pure merit" developed over 20 years of research. The advertisement notably targets middle-class consumers with health-conscious messaging—positioning the soap as a scientific dermatological product rather than mere cosmetics (which are called "injurious"). It instructs readers to pressure their barbers to use these products, reflecting early 20th-century marketing strategy. The offer of a free sample and 150-page beauty book was a common promotional tactic of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
"'Tis not in Mortals to Command Sion: says the bard. Woodbury’s Facial Soap has, however, won it. This, too, by pure merit. It has proved itself to be worth the time and research exhausted in developing it, covering a period of over 20 years. Complexional defects are utterly eradicated by it, and pimpled, roughened, irritated skins made becomingly cl clear, fresh and smooth by its constant use. It exterminates dandruff and scald head, and is pecu- liarly desirable for children. Use it whenever you perform your ablu- tions, and you will speedily perceive a gratifying improve- ment in your appear- ~ance. Let cosmetics alone; they are inju- srious. Substitute for them Woodbury’s Facial Soap, which does its beautifying work healthfully and effectually. Woodbury’s An- tiseptic Shaving Sticks = Barbers’ Bars are a genuine safeguard against skin disease. Let your barber understand that he must use them in shav- ing you. Buy it yourself and keep it at his shop for that purpose, if necessary. All his customers will follow your lead and demand its use. At Druggists or by Mail. A sample cake of Facial Soap and 150-page ‘book (sent sealed), for 1oc., | on Dermatology and Beauty, illustrated, on Skin, Scalp, Nervous and | Blood Diseases, the Care of the Hair, Complexion, etc., _ete. | JOHN H. WOODBURY, 125 West 42d Street, New York City. DERMATOROGIT: Established 1870. Consultation Free at Office or by Mail. comicbooks.com