Life, 1898-08-11 · page 20 of 20
Life — August 11, 1898 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a satirical cartoon with period advertisements (circa early 1900s). **The Cartoon:** Shows two men seated at a small table near a potted plant, unable to converse, while two women stand in a doorway behind them. The caption explains the men are professors who speak only obscure languages—one knows "French, Icelandic and Persian" while the other speaks "Dutch, Greek, Arabic and Spanish"—making conversation impossible despite each knowing twenty dialects total. The joke satirizes academic pedantry: excessive specialized knowledge that paradoxically prevents basic human communication. The women's bemused observation emphasizes the absurdity. **The Advertisements** promote patent medicines and luxury goods typical of the era: Vin Mariani (a French tonic), Rhine Violets essence, Whitman's Chocolates, and Old Crow Rye whiskey. These represent consumer products marketed with health claims now considered dubious. The page reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward intellectual pretension and emerging consumer culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Whitman’s \ Chocolates rue te recone ae one ° P seKLANDIC AND peek ey and Confections G., BY BIKTH A GREEK, HAS © O I cH, mM AKABIC AND SPANISH. EACH Poe SOME TWENTY DIALECTS, BUT } $id exatyehs Whitman's Instantaneous Chocolate } 1s perfect In flavor and quality, delicious sal) bealthful. Made Instantly with boiling wa, STEPHEN P. WHITMAN & SON, 1316 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pe. ant op BODY AND BRAN lf We Say So, It's§ Since (863, Endorsed by Medical Paculty ‘ house was established tn Falta ® e . 8 et e san ge lasting efficacious agreeable Tus eilgmets Aba Very nearly a half century correct. There ts made In the United States that 14 Alstiller ag much price as Ce are an Ye SPIE The highest degree of refinement.—Wonder- fully delicate and last- ing.—Absolutely true me and it IS the best. On account ¢ odor of the living large sales It sells as low as ans flower.—Be sure to outside brands. Bay only of houses. Wnite for a James Cr get the “No. 4711.” J ict. Sent tree. ) — Sole U. 8. Agents c H. B. KIRK & C0., Sole Both MULHENS & KROPFF 69 Fulton Street, New YorK é Also Broadway and 27th Street. Sole Agents for Great Western Champap