Life, 1889-12-19 · page 18 of 18
Life — December 19, 1889 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page** from *Life* magazine (December 19, 1889), not a political cartoon. It consists entirely of commercial advertisements for products and services. The ads promote: - **Caligraph typewriters** (claiming 100,000 daily users and speed records) - **Pears soap** (boasting a Paris Exposition gold medal) - **Crosse & Blackwell's jams** (English products sold in the U.S.) - **Piper-Heidsieck champagne** (claiming good value) - **Barry's hair tonic** (for hair growth and health) - **Bent's water wafers** (crackers) - **Burt & Packard shoes** (marketed as properly shaped footwear) - **Roux Decoration Furniture** The page reflects late-19th-century consumer culture, with manufacturers competing to establish product credibility through international awards, scientific claims, and appeals to economy. There is no satire or political commentary—this is straightforward commercial promotion typical of *Life*'s revenue model during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GALIGRAPH PARIS. pene LH i A L pA bw be re BY THE CALIGRAPH, moving Exposition, 100,000 1889. Daily - Users. : Pears obtained the only gold medal awarded solely for toilet SOAP in competi- tion with all the world. Highest possible distinction.” BENT’S WATER WAFERS, GREATEST SPEED on RECORD !! seat meres rinse ssraren sane | (passe & Blackwell’s 129 word: single minute, Blindfolded, on the cal he THE AMERICAN WaiTiNG macuineco., | FRESH FRUIT JAMS, HARTFORD, CONN. BRAN NSH OFISES: 2 oa‘tes Seca’ | Made from English Fresh Fruits SS ee AND REFINED SUCAR, ARE SOLD BY ALL GROCERS IN THE UNITED STATES. OUR CENTENNIAL EXHIBIT, =. ee NEW, DELICATE. DELICIOUS. OR SALE BY ALL GROCER‘. FACTS. ; ; FACTS. Nudis Verbis. A High-Class Champagne. Piper-Heidsieck, Sec, is as good as any Wine imported, and is 1884 VINTAGE. sold in these Unitéd States by Importer, Wine Merchant, Grocer, and Restaurateur at less profit than any other brand: éd est, OF THE FAMOUS Decoration ROUX Furniture a Gueraigs Better Value to Consumer. ca. 133 FIFTH AVE. MEW YORK e) Ticop || Don't “BuRis Becu Te rt 2 Panta Si spoil your | “ret Feet with i. also ind Y If not vold by your dealer send his ad and your address to PACKARD & FIELD, ‘Successors to pie Pasay Brockton, Mass BARCLAY 4 CO., NEW YORK. comicbooks.com