Judge, 1908-05-23 · page 13 of 16
Judge — May 23, 1908 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **beer advertisement**, not satire. Anheuser-Busch uses George Washington's historical reputation to sell Budweiser by claiming the Founding Father was a regular beer drinker. The ad argues that Washington—portrayed as the ideal American citizen and athlete—drank malt beverages throughout his life, owned a brewhouse at Mount Vernon, and maintained perfect health. The implication: if Washington drank beer "normally," it's wholesome and patriotic. Modern readers should note this exploits Washington's credibility to make health claims (beer "prolongs youth," gives "strength to muscle, mind and bone") that would be illegal advertising today. The strategy conflates historical fact (wealthy colonists did brew beer) with marketing exaggeration to legitimize a commercial product through association with American virtue and national heritage.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
George Washington NTO every generation of Ameri- cans George Washington is justly held to be the purest figure in -——! history —a superb example of the perfect citizen—a just and righteous ruler and “a light for after time.” This commanding personality had a magnificent physique. He stood over six feet in his stockings, was remarkable for horsemanship, agility and strength—the finest gentleman and athlete of his day. His constitution was of iron and he knew how to keep it so. His biographers declare that in eating and in drinking as in all things he was normal; enjoying the juice of the malt all the days of his life. He drank it around campfires, as well as in his own home and upon social and state occasions. Furthermore, upon his Mount Vernon plantation he had a brew house, as was the regular custom of wealthy Virginians. beer from malt imported 50. tations from Samuel of Virginia, by Roger Beverly. Colonial Liquor Laws [Thomas], page 60, Budweiser T shines like liquid gold iat sparkles like amber dew —it quickens with life—a right lusty beer— brewed conscientiously for over fifty years from barley and hops only. It prolongs youth and preserves physical charm— giving strength to muscle, mind and bone—a right royal beverage for the home. THE KING OF ALL BOTTLED BEERS Bottled only at the ANHEUSER-BUSCH BREWERY St. Louis, Mo. On sale at all hotels, cafes, clubs and pleasure resorts. comicbooks.com