Life, 1887-12-29 · page 18 of 21
Life — December 29, 1887 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily advertising**, not satire or political commentary. It consists of turn-of-the-century product advertisements typical of Life magazine's commercial content. Key ads include Pears' Soap (promoting "fair white hands" and "bright clear complexion"—reflecting period beauty standards valuing paleness), Delbeck Champagne, Baker's Breakfast Cocoa, and various luxury goods (pianos, perfumes, tailor services). The ads reveal **late-Victorian consumer culture**: emphasis on imported European goods (champagne from France, Swiss chocolate), pseudo-scientific health claims (Dr. Scott's "Electric Belts"), and gendered marketing (ladies' tailoring, skin whitening). **For modern readers**: These ads are historically significant not as humor but as cultural artifacts showing period anxieties about class, complexion, health, and consumption. The "fair white hands" messaging particularly reflects racist beauty standards of the era. The page documents advertising's evolution and the social values Life's audience held.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DECKER MATCHLESS PIANOS 33 Union nion Square, | N. LY. Paillard’s MUSIC BOXES ARE THE BEST. They play selections from all the Standard and Light Operas and the most Popular Music of the Day. Send stamp for Descriptive Price List to M. J, PAILLARD & 60, 680 Broedway, New York City. (Factory at STE. CROIX, S' DELBECK+ EXTRA DRY and TZERLAND.) sosoymtioag orqemoorg Procurable Everywhere. We offer the DELBECK CHAMPAGNES Pears Soap Fair white hands. Brightclearcomplexion Soft healthful skin. BOUCHE FILS & CO. Vineyards: Branch Houses: NEW YORK, 37 BEAVER STREET. MAREUVIL-SUR-AY, Champagne. PARIS, 23 BOULEVARD HAUssMAsy. Messrs. Boucne Fits & Co., of 37 Beaver Street, New York, beg to inform you | that, as a specialty for Holidays, they import their Champagne, Bouché Sec, In Fancy Baskets, (5 quarts . R13.75 Zpins. . | | 14.50 Messrs. PARK & TILFORD, Suudborys EDENIA as dborgs eke RHENISH a UNDBORG’S PERFUMES make appropriate and acceptable Gifts, They are put up in neat, attractive packages of various styles, with a full conviction that there are no better wines imported, WE EXCEPT NONE. E. LAMONTAGNE & Sons, 53, 55 and 57 Beaver Street. GOLD MEDAL, PARIS, 1878. BAKER’S Pass Breakfast Cocoa. Warranted absolutely pure Cocoa, from which the excess of Oil has been removed. It has three times the strength of Cocoa mixed with Starch, Arrowront or Sugar, and is therefore far more eco- nomical, costing less tham ome cent a cup. It is delicious, nourishing, strengthening, easily digested, and admirably adapted for invalids as well as for persons in } health. Sold by Grocers everywhere. i BAKER & CO., Dorchester, Mass, |and are FOR SALE BY ALL DEALERS. LADD & COFFIN, PROPRIETORS AND MANUFACTURERS, 24 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK. PROFIT and SAMPLES FREE to peru. men canvassers for Dr. Scott's Gen- uine Electric Beits, ‘Brushes, | ete: ats wanted for Electric Corsets. Quick sales. Waite atfioce for term. Dr. Scott tr Bway, N.Y, estore | wucnore LOGE DRESSING| \A will NOT INJURE them} In Fancy Baskets, rr half pints < 815.50 75 ‘These Baskets are also to be had from | Messrs. ACKER, MBRRALL & CONDIT, ANW LEADING MERCHANTS, CAVANAGH, SANDFORD & (0,, MERCHANT TAILORS AND IMPORTERS, 16 W. 23d St., opp. 5th Ave. Hotel, —NEW YORK— Ladies’ Tailor-made Suits, Riding Habits, Ulsters, Jackets, etc., a Specialty. ina blood disease, and Corey's Mexican Remedy a positive cure, ' Purely vegetable. Not a case of failure known, So strong is our faith we will send one bottle (se. Address THE MARECHALE-BRUT Mart CHALE ~EXTRA DIY Roosevert y Howiaso « 55457 BEAVER St ny. Aqunre Ter, unt; WILE STATES CAM! Unifor comicbooks.com