Life, 1895-12-26 · page 17 of 51
Life — December 26, 1895 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a period advertisement disguised as social commentary. The cartoon depicts two well-dressed men in conversation aboard what appears to be a train or ship, with crowded passengers visible in the background. The accompanying text uses a common advertising trope of the era: a man's romantic and professional success depends entirely on his grooming choice. The copy claims that Williams' Shaving Stick produces uniquely "rich and cream-like" lather, asserting superiority over competitors through flowery language ("soothing and refreshing"). The "joke" or sales pitch relies on early 20th-century masculine anxiety—the implication that proper shaving directly impacts "his happiness for months" and by extension, his social standing. This reflects period advertising conventions that linked personal grooming to male success and respectability. The page is primarily commercial rather than satirical; *Life* magazine carried substantial advertising alongside editorial content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MBMRARDAADARBAADARIG | HUNTER. | Hunter Baltimore Rye ” Absolutely Pure Old Rye Whiskey FOR CLUB, FAMILY AND MEDICINAL is USE. VEARS TH E OLD. BEST WHISKEY IN AMERICA y when stimulant is prescribed. “Drink p, y. HORE RAE: Pure, Old, Mellow. It fs pure.” "SOLD AT ALL +" First-class Cafes and by Jobbers. WM. LANAHAN & SON, Baltimore, Md. THE LATTER END of a con- tract is vastly more important than the front end. Five dollars saved on a premium is a trifle; five thou- sand dollars lost by bad security when the claim falls due is not a trifle, Always try to find out which is likely to live longest, youor the company you insure in; and therefore whether the company is insuring you or you are insuring the company. A thing you can’t getafter you have paid for it isn't cheap at half a cent THE TRAVELERS OF HARTFORD, CONN. Is the Oldest Accident Company in America, the Largest in the World, and bas never reor- ganized or frozen out any of its claimants. inge face vane ofthe policy ne neon otreceie: His happiness for months depends upon j olicies world-wide, and as liberal as consistent with Hee Combes herbie alte eta clint nf edb his decision. If wise he will insist upon Assets, $17,664,000. Surplus, $2,472,000.) Williams’ Shaving Stick. In no other is Paid Pgeabi,ooo tease the lather so vzch and cream-like, so soothing JANES G. BATTERSON, President. and refreshing. No other yields such solid RODNEY DENNIS, Secretary. satisfaction. | For sale by dealers everywhere, or mailed on receipt of price (25¢.) if unable to obtain it otherwise. ) Christmas THE J. B. WILLIAMS CO., Glastonbury, Conn. LONDON, 64 Great Russell Street, W. C. $228 08 08 08 oo ee eee eee | Aids Digestion. improves the Appetite. Clears the Throat. | m7, -~ Established 1869, ‘Capital $1,000.00. ‘Patented 1871. | ii | Profusely Illustrated. Now Ready Cc H EWING CUM. | fave tne coupons eney, Trsiane Baca, ane 8 fone re, the riginnirg of tbe vow word. ’ ADAMS & SONS CO., Sands Street, Brooklyn, NW. Ve daiion ei pe repenetioeng cesantass To be had at all First-Class Newsdealers, 25 Cents a Copy. -