Life, 1900-10-04 · page 20 of 20
Life — October 4, 1900 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page** with one central cartoon. The main illustration depicts two men examining a Chinese figurine—one appears to be a wealthy collector or connoisseur, the other likely a servant or attendant. The caption reads: "Am! John! You may like a bit of old African gold, but I prefer old China." **The satire**: This jokes about wealthy Americans' fashionable obsession with collecting Chinese art and antiquities during the early 1900s. "Old China" (the artwork) is being humorously contrasted with "African gold" (material wealth), suggesting the owner's pretentious preference for refined cultural taste over mere money. The humor lies in the absurdity of this snobbish distinction and the era's craze for Asian collecting among the elite. **Context**: Turn-of-century America saw intense enthusiasm among the wealthy for Oriental art collecting, making this an accessible joke about class affectation and consumer trends of the period. The page is otherwise filled with product advertisements (ales, chocolate, brandy, books, financial services) typical of *Life* magazine's revenue model.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Turn it upside down —it won't hurt it. There's no sediment in EVANS ALE o,f STOUT “Name on Every / Piece.” “ Celebrated tor Their Perfect Purity, Delicious Quality and Delightful favors. Four Million Packages Sold Last Year We bavo 6 trial p wens. for 10 cts. niaraed Yr te ress al} correspond: to THE WALTER Coat gs « Department 0, BOSTON, MASS. New York Ketail Store, 112s Broad Boston Retail store, 416 Washington: A VIRTUOSO! “AM! JOHN! YOU MAY LIEZ A BIT OF OLD AFRICAN GOLD, BUT I PREFER OLD CTINA."* FORE! Life’s Book for Golfers. A richly illustrated book, carefully printed on heavy paper. dealing exclusively with the game of © Catalogue of 180 examples of proofs tn anna, Gilbert om, sent on receipt of 10 cents, —Fan, Golf in its amusing and sentimental aspects. Draw- ings by Gibson, Hanna, Gilbert, Richurds, Blashfield, Hatt, and many others. Cover Design by Gibson. Price $2.00. _ HALF PORTIONS. Fifteen short stories by the cleverest of Lirs’s writers, profusely illustrated and h ly printed. Price $1.25. ATTWOOD’S PICTURES. An Actist’s History of the Last Ten Years of the Nineteenth Century. A collection of the clever and satirical vignettes by Francis Gitsxet Att woot, illustrating the history of our own time, Price $3.00. LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 19 WEST 3ist STREET, NEW YORK. Carry Your Golf-Clubs To California Though it may be fine weather now on Eastern links, blizzards will soon drive you indoors. Why give up golf then? Don't do it. Follow your fad {f in winterless California under summer skies. Golf grounds and expert players at principal California resorts. The California Limited in daily service via Santa Fe Route after November 7. Ask for illustrated pamphlets. General Passenger Office, e Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rallway, cHicago. g0! wiphest Award ox weries ine Genulteteerwes © “A Genuine Old Brandy made from Wine.” | — Medical Press (London), Aug, 189%.) MARTELL’S THREE STAR BRANDY AT ALL BARS AND RESTAURANTS. Redmond,(: Kerr&Co. BANKERS, 41 WALL ST., N.Y. Members N. Y. Stock Exchange. H Lists of current offerings tent, on PHILADELPHIA CORRESPON GRAHAM, KERR & C | ‘OLD CROW RYE sreaorr WHISKEY ssote sorrens, new’ PRESS OF THE 4. W. PRATT CO., NEW YORE. BOTTLERS, NEW YORK. comicbooks.com