Life, 1896-12-17 · page 20 of 20
Life — December 17, 1896 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page** with no political cartoons or satire. It features four product endorsements typical of the era: **Vin Mariani**: A French tonic wine marketed as a health reformer. The quote from Henri Rochefort (a French politician/writer) claims it "completely reformed" his constitution—a common exaggerated testimonial style for patent medicines of this period. **Golden Sceptre Smoking Tobacco**: Advertised as "perfection." **Old Crow Rye Whiskey**: Marketed as a "pure stimulant" for household use, reflecting the era before alcohol prohibition and stricter drug regulations. **Pears' Soap**: Positioned as a luxury product for people of "good taste," emphasizing its pleasant scent versus inferior competitors. The page also announces **Life's Comedy** (an illustrated humor publication), featuring drawings by Gibson and other cartoonists. The advertisements reflect pre-FDA standards when unregulated health claims and patent medicines were openly marketed without scientific evidence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
December 17 186, ‘VIN MARIANI | ‘ & ” 9, ue "REA, MARIANI WINE—THE IDEAL FRENCH TONIC—FOR BODY AND BRAIN. Pears’ “YOUR PRECIOUS MARIANI WINE COMPLETELY REFORMED) Nie MY CONSTITUTION. YOU SHOULD CERTAINLY OFFER SOME TO| Soap i is always pre- WILL CONVINCE THAT THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.” HENRI ROCHEFORT. ferred by people of Write to MARIANI & CO. for Descriptive Book, 75 PORTRAITS. | good taste who have Lscecimaninmian SERRE: Yadecwomas tal Aitigripls of Oden: ene tried it. Match- We will send on receipt) oxres : 8 xfer st of 10c. a sample to less for the complex- any address. Prices Now 18 ree an anchor ; : ion— Bo Golan Scene ae omnes makes the skin Postage paid. Cuatogee free apgall the attendant evils is | soft,clean and beauti- 159 Falton ‘4 Our “OLD CROW “ 2 Silage A =| RYE” WHISKEY ful. Its “clean” scent , anoutd bein every ousehotd; }is much nicer than \ and at the firs 15 pms Use rf d it. Itis the purest stimulant crass] in the world and will not dis- | | pe lume poor soap’s, iA appoint. you. See that the word RYE is on the label, | _ Economical —luxurious. goik"eapeeand Tabet: Avoid substitutes. fi BS IR 8:66. Pears’ (the origi) Shaving Stick 6 Fulton St.; also Broadway is ‘unrivalled: ‘and 27th EW YORK. | Sold everywhere—Used everywhere, Est. 1853. Sold Everywhere. McMAHON & WREN, Distributers. IS PERFECTION LIFES COMEDY. “THE fourth number of LIFE’S COMEDY is now ready. It contains 32 pages of beautifully printed illustrations on heavy calen- dered paper, with a specially decorated cover printed in colors. Price Twenty-five cents. Subscriptions One Dollar a year. Drawings by Gibson, Wenzell, Toaspern, Van Schaick, Johnson, Sul- livant and others. This Number is devoted to Our Bachelors . MITCHELL & , MILLER, Publishers, 19 and 2) WEST 31ST STREET, NEW YORK CITY. RICHARD K. FOX PRESO, NEW YORK. comicbooks.com