Life, 1896-12-05 · page 34 of 34
Life — December 5, 1896 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement** rather than political satire. It's a Pears' Soap marketing piece that plays on a common phrase of the era. The ad's "secret" is a pun: women's letters famously ended with "P.S." (postscript). The advertisement claims this abbreviation actually stands for "Pears' Soap," suggesting that women's most important written advice concerns this product. The illustration depicts two fashionable figures—a woman and man—examining correspondence, with the woman appearing to share this "secret" discovery. The ornate border and playful verse ("I've heard it said...") create a lighthearted, gossipy tone meant to amuse while promoting the soap brand. The tagline warns against substitutes, emphasizing authenticity and the brand's established reputation (over 100 years, 20 international awards). This reflects early 20th-century concerns about counterfeit products competing with established brands. The humor relies on wordplay rather than social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ew . : : = . 7, = 4 f =, The Secret's Out! Ive heard it said,and heard it read, That put to any test, Ofall the mites a woman writes, Her “P_S’is the best. ‘Though why the best, nene ever Suessd, Nor saw a secret there, Until amaid in mischief laid The women's secret bare— That B.S. means c7 Pears Soap Established Over 100 Years—2o International Awards. Insist on having the genuine Pears’ Soap. Substitutes are sometimes recommended for the sole purpose of making more profit out of you. Se é é@ @ e @ @ P) 4 ? é é é @ Ps P) P) @ @ @ @ @ $ é é é @ é ; @ @ 3 ° ° a ° $ ° ° : ° | WICHARD K. FOX PRESS, NEW YORK. comicbooks.com