Life, 1884-12-11 · page 25 of 28
Life — December 11, 1884 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertisements** with one notable satirical cartoon. The "DO YOU SLEEP?" illustration depicts two cherub-like figures—likely infants or putti—discussing insomnia. One complains of being "horribly nervous" and unable to sleep; the other responds that he had the same problem "before I took VERVE," promoting a patent medicine cure. The satire targets **the era's ubiquitous quack remedies**. By depicting babies as insomniacs needing medicinal intervention, the cartoon mocks both the absurdity of such products and consumers' desperation for solutions to modern ailments. The implication is that people will believe anything—even that infants need nerve tonics—if marketed persuasively enough. The broader page reinforces this: surrounded by ads for digestive tablets, sea salt baths, and diamond rings, the cartoon reflects Gilded Age consumer culture's embrace of commercial "solutions" to everyday problems.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Jbendld, Constable AS Co,| NOVELTIES IN VELVETS AND SILKS. We are exhibiting an extensive and very choice selection of the latest Paris styles in Fancy and Black Brocaded Velvets and Plushes, Lyons Dress and Cloaking Velvets, novel effects in Damasse Silks and Satins, suitable for the Holidays, and a large assort- ment of the most popular makes in Black Silks. Broadovay KH 19th ot. NEW YORK. SPECIAL INDUCEMENTS. DRESS SUITS made from finest West of England Diagonals and Broad- cloth for $75.00 price elsewhere, $110.0), Other garments equally low in proportion, Best workmanship and artistic fit guaranteed, FRANCIS CARLSON, Inpoetine Tatton, 815 Broapway, (1 flight up). MURRAY'S CHARCOAL TABLETS For Dyspepsia, Headache, Bad Breath, Sour Stomach. The Good Old Fashioned Remedy. DITMAN’S SEA SALT For producing a real sea bath at home. for circular. A. J. DITMAN, Broadway. and Barclay Street, Send New York. Cavanagh, Sanford & x Co. Merchant Tailors nd Importers, 16 West 23d STREET, Opposite sth Ave, Hotel, MAKERS OF NEW YORK, THE SHIRT AN Irish newspaper publishes a poem, the opening line of which is ** Do ghlacfain tu gan ba gan punt, gan aireamb spitidh.” We don’t know when we have seen a striking metaphor CORTICELLI SEWING SILK LADIES, TRY IT, 25 cts. a box. | more beautifully expressed. The author has the “divine afflatus” Herald. BILLIARD POOL TABLES IN THE WORLD. Brunswick-Balke Collender | The Co. | | Mew York Salesrooms, 860 Broadway, Cor. 17th St. and Union Square. DO YOU SLEEP? Jam horribly ner- J was precisely that way myself before I took VERVE. vous—scarcely get a | wink of sleep. | DIAMONDS. | Carefully matched pairs Fine O/d Mine Bril- liants, $50 to $3,000. A large assortment of Engagement Rings, from $15 to $1,000. | Lace Pins, $10 up. Bracelets, $15 up. Collar Buttons, $5 up. Studs, $10 up. Diamonds Remounted in latest styles, Designs sent to any address, J. H. JOHNSTON, the worst way.—Norristown The Most Extensive Manufacturers of Tho Beat Sewing Silk’ Made, ally, this Jittle fem of a monthly Je to the you Ar. Jevery particular, Speci- men copy free. For sale by Nowadealers Agents wanted. One Year, $1.59. Single Coptes, 15 cts. Bussell Publishing Co., 36 BromSeld St., Boston, Mass, Mlustrations in -LIFE: engraved by this Company, GEORGE MATHER'S SONS, | PRINTING [NK, 60 Joun St., New York. This paper is printed with our cut ink, MANUFACTURERS, ARTISTS MATERIALS OF ALL KINDS AF INE BRUSHES AND VARNIS >HES Pal | | | | | | 150 Bowery. | CHILDS? GeS PAJAMAS AND UNDERWEAR. Treatment For CATARRH And Oiseas, HEAD, THROA’ Can Le taken at home, fncurabie whea our are caer ‘answered fos ehrcolare esnmnial KEV.T. GUILDS Trey, Obie. comicbooks.com