Life, 1891-03-26 · page 10 of 22
Life — March 26, 1891 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page contains a three-panel comic strip by Jack Bannon (signed at bottom) depicting a frog that has been dramatically restored to health through "Gourd Vine Elixir," a patent medicine. The sequential narrative shows: the frog in poor condition; the frog after using the elixir, now cradling a human infant; and finally the frog fully restored and energized. The accompanying testimonial letter claims the writer was cured of a severe monthly ailment and now cheerfully recommends the product "to anyone in the same condition." This is **patent medicine advertising disguised as entertainment**—a common early 20th-century practice. The exaggerated before-and-after transformation satirizes the absurd medical claims these products made, while the comic format was designed to make the advertisement more memorable and shareable than straightforward ads.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
difference. Now be off, and don’t let me see you again till next week!" So say- ing. Professor Middlemist resumed his book, and Rafael departed. i “ Of course I'll take it, darling, if you wish me to,” said Verinda, the next morn- ing, * but I never felt better in my life. There!” and she swallowed it, with an undulation of her lovely white throat that prompted her husband to kiss it. Then he looked at her, but could perceive no effect from the drug. At least, it was to the kiss that he ascribed the brightening of her eyes and the flushing of her cheeks. “1 believe she does look prettier,” he said to himself; “but after all she is still My cooditoniwas such thal gotiser) noch down’ lathe mouthivand'fearediinat Vennda—and Lam U1 . - should never see home and friends again. “ You'll be back to dinner, won't you ?’ aa she said, with her soft hands on his shoulders, “ But I know you will, because 1 know you love me as much as I love you, If I had never met you, I never should have loved anybody.” Rafael concealed a guilty blush with a forced smile. ‘ Nonsense!" said he. “There are dozens of men in the world you might have loved as well as you do me, or better.” “ Rafael, that is wicked! Suppose I was to say that there were dozens of women you might have loved. * * * why, what's the matter, darling? Are you angry?" “Don't try to jest, Verinda—it doesn’t become you,” said her husband gloomily. “ Of course, I will think of nobody but you! The mere idea pains me. There, good bye, my love! Be a good girl, and expect me to dinner.” So Rafael went away about his affairs and at noon he met a friend who invited him uptown to lunch. “ There's a cousin of mine, a mighty pretty girl, to be there,” the friend said, “and as you are a con- noisseur, I want you to meet her.” Here was a temptation from which Rafael, knowing his own weakness, ought to fly. But after a little hesitation, he accepted his friend’s offer. “How am I to know if I'm cured, unless I put it to the test?" he argued. “If this girl is really pretty, and [ don’t fall in love with her, the Professor's medicine will have been successful.” So to the luncheon he went. And was at once restored. I cheerfully recommend it to anyone in the same condition. Very sincerely, JONAH, . . . P.O. Box 76543892567. ‘Nineveh, Assyria. The cousin was not at all like Verinda. comicbooks.com