Life, 1887-05-05 · page 16 of 16
Life — May 5, 1887 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page** with one satirical cartoon. The central illustration depicts a sickly, gaunt figure being examined by a doctor or healer, captioned with verse about bilious complaints, weight loss, and constipation—promoting "Nature's Remedy" and Tarrant's Seltzer Aperient. **The satire**: The exaggerated physical deterioration shown represents the common Victorian-era concern about digestive ailments and "biliousness" (believed caused by liver dysfunction). The cartoon mocks both hypochondria and the era's obsession with patent medicines and tonics as cure-alls. **Context**: Late 19th-century Americans were heavily marketed dubious remedies for vague complaints. The dramatic visual of a wasting man serves as fear-mongering advertising—suggesting catastrophic health decline without the product. The remaining content is straightforward period advertising for pianos, champagne, hair tonic, music boxes, and clothing—typical of Life's revenue model.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DECKER Pears Soap PIANOS... Fair white hands. Brightclear complexion DE LBECK+ Soft healthful skin. EXTRA DRY and AZ TARRANT’S Effervescent Seltzer Aperient Is taken with positive “By every feature I can see You're Bilious ip a high degree, You're losing spap and losing weight, Your pulse rups ata railroad rate. In "Nature's Remedy; behold Acertain Cure for young andold. The Constipation will depart, ros Pp EPS! fA, LICK HEADACHE, CONSTIPATION. Procurable Everywhere. souoyMS10Am OTQUINIOIA We offer the DELBECK CHAMPAGNES with a full conviction that there are no better wines imported. WE EXCEPT NONE. E. LAMONTAGNE & Sons, 53, 55 und 57 Beaver Street. PORTABLE COTTAGES| LL sizes and de- signs. Especially | dapted for camping | out, club and lawn purposes. Catalogue on application. RONNE & BARBOUR, 81 New Street. = | ,Tricopherous = FOR THE HAIR. The Oldest and the Best s Tricopherous not es brilliancy to the Hair, but promotes ¥ the growth to such a in a few months a thin head of becomes by its use a thick mass of shining fibres. | aa ye VIN BRUT MARECHALE-BRUT MARECHALE ~EXTRA DRY Roosevert’ y Howann « 55457 BEAVER St NY. = } [i Toms ls The Indigestion quickly start, And soon Sick Headache will subside When Tarranf's Seltzer has beer tried.” pleasure by young and old. Is prompt and efficient, without de- bilitating. Leaves the system in an exhilar- ated condition. MANUFACTURED ONLY BY TARRANT & CO. New York. SOLD BY REPUTABLE DRUGGISTS Everywhere. ESTABLISHED 1834. ber ina good — Boston THE RICHFIELD NEWS, RICHFIELD SPRINGS, tae Pall’: 5 MUSIC BOXES ARE THE BEST. They play selections from all the Standard and Light Operas and he most Popular Music of the Day. Send stamp for Descriptive Price List to M. J. PAILLARD & C0., 680 Broadway, New York City. (Factory at STE, CROIX, SWITZERLAND.) “A good pa- | | PAJAMAS AND Sr. CLatwsvinte, Belmont Co., Ubie, April 18, 1887. Publishers of V Dear Sins: ‘This once beautiful town has been completely swept by cyclone, the most appalling disaster ever known it ction of the country ; the greatest distress prevails, many families are homeless, and have lost all. St. Clairsville has always been foremost 'in rendering assistance to other localities whenever help was needed, and it is to be hoped that she will not be forgotten in her present distress. Money is greatly needed. Please ask through your valuable paper for immediate assistance and open subscription-list at once. Truly yours, R. J. RILEY, Business Manager, St. Clairsville Gazette. Alll Subscriptions should be forwarded to Samuel D. Riley. Esq Box 32, St, Clairsville, Belmont Co., Ohio. Cavanagh, Sandford & Co., Merchant Tailors and Importers, 16 West 23d STREET, Opposite Fifth Ave. Hotel, NEW YORK. MAKERS OF THE © & § SHIRT UNDERWEAR. Press OF FLEwina, BREWSTER & ALLey, 31-33 WesT TWENTY-THIRD STREET, NEw YORK comicbooks.com