Life, 1895-04-11 · page 23 of 26
Life — April 11, 1895 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not satire**—it's a straightforward advertisement for Pears' Soap, though presented in deliberately archaic English ("Ye Greate Englybe," "yclept," "foftness") that mimics old manuscripts for quaint effect. The ad targets American readers by claiming the British soap has won endorsements from famous performers like Adelina Patti and Lillie Langtry, and boasts a royal warrant from the Prince of Wales. It promises the soap will improve complexion and skin softness. The caution at bottom ("Be sure you obtain PEARS', there be dangerous substitutes") suggests counterfeit competition was already a problem by 1895. The mock-medieval language styling was a common advertising gimmick of the era—lending products false prestige through faux historical legitimacy. Modern readers might mistake this for satire, but *Life* magazine published genuine ads alongside humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Greate Englybe Complexion Soap. Eftablybed 1789. ERHAPS there be but fewe Americans who have sojourned in foreigne countries, but have heard tell of the fame of cer- tayne cunnyinge artificers yclept Pears, who manufacture PEARS’ Soar, which hath so vaftly improved ye complections and foftened ye fkins of Englyfhe maidens and Englyfhe menne. Many wise and learned men and countless beauteous ladies, including Mi/tre/s Adelina Patti, and Miftre/s Lillie Langtry, have folemnly proclaimed in public their opinion that PEARS’ Soap zs ve BEST IN Ye WORLDE. Be it observed that PEARS’ Soap, which is subtilly perfumed, is perfectly pure, and having no colouring or other injurious materials in its compofition, gives a foftness to ye fkin like unto unfpun floss filk, and a brilliancy and tranfparency.to ye complexion like unto a ~ ripening cherry—ye admiration of all beholders. -- PEARS’ Soap is made under Royal Warrante for V¢ Prince of Wales, and is alsoe used bye mighty potentates in divers countries. Yé faire maidens and matrons and goodlie youths and menne of America will truly find that ye wonderful virtues of PEARS’ Soap, which all ye druggifts fell, have not been over-rated.