Life, 1896-12-05 · page 23 of 34
Life — December 5, 1896 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertisement**, not political satire. The page promotes Williams' Shaving Soap products through a humorous domestic scene rather than satirizing current events. The illustration shows a man shaving a dog, with the caption "Now, Bitts, keep cool, and see if this isn't just boss"—a lighthearted joke suggesting the soap works so well it's suitable even for animals. The tagline "For strong wiry beards there's nothing like Williams' Shaving Soap" plays on the visual pun. The left sidebar catalogs Williams' product line: Genuine Yankee Soap (10¢), a Shaving Stick (25¢), and a Luxury Shaving Tablet (25¢). The "Barbers' Bar" soap is also shown. This reflects early 20th-century advertising humor—using absurdist scenarios and talking animals to make products memorable. There's no political commentary; it's purely commercial.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| oest AnD most FAMoU NC SOAP IN THE WORLD “GENUINE YANKEE” SOAP. 10¢ Williams’ Shaving Soap LUXURY SHAVING TABLET, 25° ROUND-VUST FITS THE CUP. DELIGHTFULLY PERFUMED. WILLIA ao SHAVING SOAPS are for s dealer does not have them—we address—postpaid on receipt of price. THE J.B. WILLIAMS CO., Glastonbury, Ct.,U.S. A. LONDON: 64 Great Russell Street, W. C.