Judge, 1911-05-20 · page 24 of 24
Judge — May 20, 1911 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is an advertisement for Wrigley's Spearmint Gum, not political satire. The uniformed figure (appearing to be a policeman or authority figure) enthusiastically promotes the product's ubiquitous availability and claimed health benefits—white teeth, fresh breath, and improved digestion. The small child figure represents the product's appeal across all ages ("from six to sixty"). The "spear" referenced is Wrigley's logo. This reflects early 20th-century advertising conventions that made exaggerated health claims for chewing gum, which was then marketed as a beneficial confection rather than mere candy. The imagery emphasizes the product's accessibility and universal popularity rather than making any political or social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
They sell it on every corner! Cigar stores, drug stores, candy stores, tiny stands—all sell the helpful tidbit. The pure mint leaf juice makes it loved by all, from six to sixty. Every store sells it because everyone likes it. Millions of white teeth, pure breaths and fine digestions come from it. Chew the beneficial confection after all meals! Look for the spear! The flavor lasts! comicbooks.com