Life, 1889-04-25 · page 20 of 25
Life — April 25, 1889 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page** from Life magazine (circa 1889, based on the "Spring Opening of 1889" reference). The main content is commercial rather than satirical. The central illustration, "Shopping in Sedan Chairs in the Last Century," depicts a **humorous historical scene**: Queen Charlotte visiting a soap shop a hundred years prior, with figures in 18th-century dress transported in sedan chairs. This serves as **nostalgic branding** for Pears' Soap, which claims 100 years of establishment—suggesting timeless quality and elegance. The surrounding advertisements showcase period products: the **Caligraph typewriter** (competing on speed records), **liquid glue**, a **ladies' tailor**, **Russia Cement**, the **Hawk-Eye camera** (emphasizing "finest cameras in the world"), and **Victor bicycles**. Each ad employs competitive claims typical of the era: "greatest speed," "finest," "genuine" (warning against counterfeits). The page reflects 1880s consumer culture emphasizing technological progress and quality assurance, with minimal satire—it's primarily a commercial vehicle.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CALIGRAPH GREATEST SPEED ON RECORD ! T. W. Osborne wrote 179 words in one single minute, on the CALIGRAPH, the Champion Machine of the World. 100,000 DAILY G. A. McBride wrote 129 words in a single minute, BLINDFOLDED, thus in each case proving the falsity of many of the statements of our competitors. For full and correct account of above test, address THE AMERICAN WRITING MACHINE C0., HARTFORD, CONN. BRANCH OFFICES: 237 Broa 14 W. 4th Street, Cincinnati, V. Street, Philadelphia. y, Ne ¥.5 (003 Arch TH a vy Repairs Everything. WAYS © AMR Use THasuccess has brought alot of ean £08 FAvSSiy CEMENT | Renta Gio foe | RUSSIA CEMENT CO.| os GLOUCESTER, MASS. LADIES’ TAILOR, 19 E. 2ist St., N.Y. SPRING OPENING OF 1889. TO Ladies who have favored me with their patronage, 1 would respectfully inform that I am now in receipt of a full line of Fabrics suitable for Spring Wear. Also, that Iam. pre- pared to show the very latest designs in Models for Gowns, Coats, Jackets, and Wraps. Embroidered and Ornamen- ted Designs from Vienna, London and Paris that can: not be seen elsewhere. RIDING HABITS OF FAULTLESS FIT. Ladies residing away from New York can have their gar- ments made by sending meas- urement and bodice. “A per- fect fit guaranteed, SHOPPING IN SEDAN CHAIRS IN THE LAST CENTURY. Queen Charlotte’s Visit to Pears’, or Soap for her Complexion, a Hundred Years Ago. Pears Soap the world. best and most attractive of all Soaps for general toilet purposes. has been established in London 100 YEARS both a COMPLEXION and as a sHavinc scap, has obtained INTERNATIONAL AWARDS, and is now sold in every city It is the purest, cleanest, most elegant and economical, and is therefore d It is used and recom mended by thousands of intelligent mothers throughout the civilized world, because serving as a cleanser and detergent, its emollient properties prevent the chafing and discom forts to which infants are so liable. Pears’ Soap can now be had of nearly all Druggist in the United States, but be sure that you get the genuine, as there are worthless imitatio alia AND Combination OAMERA. Or, with automatic attachment containing a coil of sen- sitized film for taking 100 different pletures without refilling, S25. Possessing ull the advantages of the “Kodak,” and making pletures 4 x 5 inches, Our new 189 edition PHOTOGRAPHY AT HOME, embracing “How I became an Artist,” Guide for beginners, and complete eatalogue, sent free upon application. Oomplete outfits, $5, $10, and upwards, The Finest Cameras in the World. THE BOSTON CAMERA CO., Manufacturers, 36 Indla St., Boston, ‘Youcanliveathomeand make more money at work for ua than at anything e've In the world. Either sex all ages. Cost- Wyoutht rae. Terme yume. Address, TRUE & CO, Ai ‘Maine. HIS cut was made yi to represent the } best bicycle on earth, © ZZ It was not designed to be printed this Sf Way, but we thought it | might catch your ey = We make cycles for 7 all classes of riders. We know how to | make them correct in every way, and w make them the best we know how. Sen for our little book and learn all about ~ them. OVERMAN WHEEL CO., Makers of Victor Cycles. BOSTON, MA __ Advertise where and when you can reach those you wish! interest. Moral: Tue RicHFigtp WS. Tue Saratoca News. ‘Tue Sr. Aucustine Ni ‘Tue THousann Istanps News. ‘Address, F. G. Barry, Utica, N. Ys comicbooks.com