Life, 1887-08-18 · page 16 of 16
Life — August 18, 1887 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. The main content is a visual illusion presented by Pears' Soap featuring concentric circles arranged in a flower pattern around a central "PEARS' Soap" label. The illusion, credited to Professor Silvanus P. Thompson, is a **strobic circle** (optical illusion). Readers are instructed to hold the diagram by the bottom corner and twist it slightly; the circles will appear to rotate independently, with the inner "cogged wheel" appearing to turn opposite to the outer circles. This was a popular Victorian-era novelty—using optical illusions for product advertising. The joke/appeal isn't satirical but rather **interactive entertainment** meant to engage readers and make the Pears' Soap advertisement memorable. The surrounding ads promote champagne, spring water, binding services, and beauty treatments—typical late-19th-century Life magazine content mixing satire with commercial pitches.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BREED PUREST NATURAL WATER) Healthful, Cooling and Refreshing. | Preventive of Bright’s Disease. For Sale by all Druggists and Grocers. SEND FOR CIRCULARS. THE UNDERWOOD CO. | GENERAL OFFICE, | 18 VESEY ST., NEW YORK. | DELBECK+ EXTRA DRY and souoqmfioag olquincosg Procurable Everywhere. We offer the DELBECK CHAMPAGNES with a full conviction that there are no better wines imported. WE EXCEPT NONE. E. LAMONTAGNE & SONS, 53, 55 and 57 Beaver Street. | BCU CANTAFF To eat THE REST Common SENSE BINDER FOR BinDINo -LIFE- Cheap, Strong and Durable, Will hold 2% numbers. Mailed to any part of the United States for $1. Address office of - LIFE . 28 W. 2x St..N.V Yy. Moles and Superfluous Hair ‘permanently removed. Flesh “increased or reduced. Complex. Fons beastified. “The Form developed. Hair, Brows and Lashes colored and re. st interesting Book and (testimonials ‘sent sealed), 4c. Madame Velaro, 249 ‘W. 22d St., N. Y, Cit: Wrinkles, Black-fleads, Pimples, Freckles, Pittings, [Aucust 18,7188). - LIFE. Presented by the Proprietors of PEARS’ Soap. Strobic Circles invented by Professor Silvanus P. Thompson, D.Sc. BA. OLD this Diagram by the right-hand bottom corner and give it a slight but rapid circular twisting motion, when each circle will separately revolve on its vwn axts. The inner cogged wheel will be seen to revolve in an oppostte dircetion. Protected agai Cavanagh, Sandford & Co., Merchant Tailors and Importers, marécnal Roosevert » Howtano « 16 Wrst 23d Street, 55437 BEAVER St NY. Opposite Fifth Ave. Hotel, NEW YORK | MAKERS OP THE © & § SHIRT Corretpondente conhdeation Mention this paper. PAJAMAS AND UNDERWEAR. Press oF Fituna, BarweTin & Acity, 31-33 WEST Twanty-Trump STREET, New YOR comicbooks.com