Life, 1897-12-04 · page 29 of 34
Life — December 4, 1897 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a cigarette advertisement with travel agency marketing. The top advertisement depicts a tobacconist's shop scene where a salesman presents "Golden Sceptre" cigars as an ideal Christmas gift—priced at $1.30 postpaid. The humor appears gentle: the product name suggests luxury and refinement, positioning cigars as a sophisticated gentleman's gift. The scene shows a well-dressed customer in a shop lined with branded cigar boxes, reinforcing the upscale product positioning. The remainder of the page contains straightforward advertising for Raymond & Whitcomb Tours, a legitimate travel agency offering guided tours to California, Europe, Mexico, and worldwide destinations with special trains featuring dining cars and interpreters. This is primarily an **advertising page** rather than satirical content. The cigarette ad's humor is understated—relying on product aspiration rather than social or political satire typical of Life magazine's editorial cartoons.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Just what he wants for his Christmas: A pound of Golden Sceptre. $1.30 post paid. SURBRUG, 159 FULTON STREET, NEW YORK, or all dealers. Raymond & Whitcomb Tours and Tickets Special vestibuled trains with dining cars will leave CALIFORNIA at frequent intervals for California, Choice of routes. The tickets allow entire freedom of movement. Variable routes, including Holy Land, Northern EUROPE Africa and the Continent. The tickets provide for superior accommodations. These tours will be made in a leisurely manner. MEXICO Special vestibuled trains with dining car service, interpreters, etc., offer unusual facilities for traveling leisurely, and with every degree of comfort. OTHER TOURS Round the World, to Florida, Hawaii, Japan, China, TRAVEL TICKETS Alaska, Yellowstone National Park, etc., in season. Railroad and Steamship tickets at lowest rates to all parts of the World. Estimates furnished on ap- Descriptive Books plication. RAYMOND & WHITCOMB, 222 Washington Street; Bostin, 9 1005 Chestnut Street, Philadelpt comicbooks.com