Life, 1886-04-22 · page 15 of 16
Life — April 22, 1886 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily advertisements** with no political cartoons or satirical content. It's a commercial compilation from an early American *Life* magazine (likely 1880s-1890s based on style). The ads reflect period consumer culture: women's fashion (robes, mantuas, French millinery), men's grooming (trouser stretchers, toilet soaps), sporting goods, jewelry, writing implements, and champagne. One notable element: the "Harvard Trouser Stretcher" ad presents an absurdly specific grooming device as a mark of being "well-dressed"—likely *light satire* of gentlemen's vanity and the era's elaborate standards of appearance. The product promises to eliminate wrinkles and restore shape, playing on anxiety about proper dress. Otherwise, this is straightforward commercial material showing what refined consumers of the Gilded Age considered essential purchases, from imported French goods to luxury champagne. The advertisements themselves constitute the "content" rather than serving as vehicles for satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HENRIETTE FRAME, th [Eror. [Bjeremvs on Gi Ra People of refined: taste who ROBES and Faue desire exceptionally fips elgar- (3 wy ettes should use only our Tourer. Soaps: MANTEAUX, Aig) Straight Cut, put up in satin “You have deroottrated that a ore poe 4 é ackets and boxes of 10s. 20s. soep may be ade: I, therefore, cordial Solicits an inspection of aN 8. and 100s. 14 Prize Medala: fread to ladies and 6 rie some very beautiful designs < WM. 8, KIMBALL & CO. for evening dress, wraps and Street Costumes, select- ed during her trip abroad, * A Well-Dressed Gentleman suitable for Fall and Winter. SMOULD MAVE AS A TOILET ADJUNCT THE Out of town orders receive HARVARD TROUSER STRETCHER. + .special attention, Perfect Taree minutes’ time will apply the Stretcher and fit guaranteed on receipt of Sie aren Mare tre ete es Gs St te Serie meanirem ap ee irs 12°6°S, oa receipt of frase. 232 West 23d) Street, RICHMOND SPRING CO.,| NEW YORK. 132 Richmond St., Boston, Mass. LAWN AND FIELD GAMES. Every variety suitable for out-door sports for ama- : teur and professional. (We claim for out goods they are unexcelled, and our prices as low as anywhere.) Aol made from the choicest quality — of stock, and contains a LARGE A. G. SPALDING & BROS., PERCENTAGE of GLYCERINE; B therefore it is specially adapted for 108 MamehGo reer’ | ‘Toilet, Bath and Infants. > 56. WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET, N. Y. Cloak and abit Makers, | Offer unusually attractive and original stples of- - Fine Costumes, Jackets, Wraps, Costumes and French Pillinery, French Millinery Practical Furriecs. | + + at less than one-bal€ Fifth Avenue prices. Special rates for storage and altering furs during summer months. 56 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET, N..Y. STERBROOK’S SUPERIOR, STANDARD, RELIABLE. STEEL PENS. Leading Nos. 048, 14, 130, 333, 161. Bev Sale by all Stationers. Warehouse: 26 sohn Street, New York. MAKER OF jSend for Catalogue. 5 a WELR sees 5 JEWELRY. & oe ae PRESERVES AND SOPTENS THE. beste FOR IT HENRY C. HASKELL, ; Ss CONTAINS NO SHELLAC OR ACID. "e3,|| HIGHEST AWARD, GOLD MEDAL, + (Limit'd) 239 Colum-| AT THE KEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION, 12, JOHN SSTREEL: = Gus Ave.,Boston, Mass.|| pottte contains double quantity, Use no other. BOUCHE we Champagne SEC” “To: be had of all Respectable Wine Merchants and Grocers.