Life, 1884-11-20 · page 17 of 18
Life — November 20, 1884 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily advertising, not satire or political content. The main illustration shows an idealized woman in classical dress holding a decorative fan, accompanying an insurance advertisement for the United States Mutual Accident Association. The ad uses the loose theme "Accidents Will Happen" and pairs the elegant female figure with a cautionary message about life's dangers—from railroad collisions to banana peels. This juxtaposition of refined imagery with mundane hazards appears to be the only "humor" present. The page also advertises several products: a collection of humorous illustrations from Life magazine itself; "The Thompson Street Poker Club" sketches; and a patent medicine device (the "Voltaic Belt") making dubious health claims for nervous debility and various ailments. These advertisements reflect late 19th/early 20th-century commercial practices and consumer products typical of the era, including fraudulent medical devices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GOOD THINGS OF | METPE..” Selected from the brightest American| humorous paper,“ LIFE.” A collection of the best illustrations which have appeared in it since the issue of its first number. Oblong quarto, with highly ornamental and | humorous design on cover in color and gold. Cloth, Bevelled Boards, - WHITE, STOKES, & ALLEN, PUBLISHERS, 182 FIFTH AVENUE, New York City. | Copies may be had by addressing the publishers or office of * Life,” 1155 Broadway, New York. - $2.00. Price, $2.00 each, Postage Free. The Thompson Street Poker Club. From ‘‘ LIFE.” AND OTHER SKETCHES, By the Same Author. PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED. THIRD EDITION JUST OUT! ONLY TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. For sale by all Newsdealers and at Lire Office, 1155 Broadway, New York. YOUNG MEN !-READ THIS. Tue Votraic Brut Co., of Marshall, Mich., offers to ‘send their celebrated Erecteic-Votraic Bett and other Ecectaic Arpiiances on trial for thirty days, to men (young or old) afflicted with nervous debility, loss of vitali and manhood, and all kindred troubles. Aiso for rheuma~ tism, neuralgia, paralysis, and many other diseases. Com- pete restoration to health, vigor and manhood guaranteed. ork is incurred ‘as thirty days trial is allowed. Write free. them at once for illustrated pamphlet free. } They are happening every day to thousands of people and in thousands of different ways—from the railroad collision to the treacherous banana | You CANNOT PREVENT ACCIDENTS, BUT YOU CAN INSURE AGAINST THEM IN THE | United States Mutual Accident Association OF NEW YORK, The largest, cheapest and best institution of its kind in the world. $5.00 will make you a | member, and about $13.00 a year will carry a policy that guarantees to those having a pre- | ferred occupation $5000 in the event of death by accident or $25.00 per week in case of dis- abling injury. CHAS. B. PEET, President. JAS. R. PITCHER, Secretary.