Life, 1901-04-04 · page 31 of 32
Life — April 4, 1901 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertisements** for consumer products (biscuits, brandy, cigarettes, dictionary, rye whiskey, perfume) interspersed with one cartoon. The cartoon titled "Expectation" shows a well-dressed woman and small boy. The boy states he's not staying to keep her company but waiting to see "that stool break"—a joke about the boy's mischievous anticipation that the furniture will fail under the woman's weight. The humor relies on a crude insult about the woman's size, typical of early 20th-century satire. The caption attributes the joke to "Moonshine," likely a pen name for the cartoonist. The page itself demonstrates how *Life* magazine—despite its satirical reputation—depended heavily on advertising revenue, mixing editorial content with product endorsements that used contemporary marketing appeals about hospitality and quality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“A Pleased Guest Makes a Happy Hostess.” Serve Ramona an Athena Sugar Wafers Ramona Flavored with Chocolate Athena Flavored with Lemon NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY EXPECTATION! (lo sinalt toy): YOU ARB A GOOD LITLE BOY TO STOP HERE AND KER ME COMPANY. It Hoy: UMN'T STAYING TO KERP YOU COMPANY, I'M WAITING TO SER ‘THAT STOOL BREAK. Moonshine. NEW EDITION Webster’s Throat Ease and Breath Perfume. “‘h Genuine Old Brandy made from Wine.” — Medical Press (London), Aug. 1899. MARTELL'S THREE STAR BRANDY AT ALL BARS AND RESTAURANTS. Dictionary 25,000 NEW WORDS, ETC. P under the direct supervision of W. T. -D., LL.D., United States Com: 2, assisted by a large corps ts and editors, New Piates Throughout. Rich Bindings. 2364 Pages. $000 Illustrations. Better Than Ever for Home, School, Office. Aho Webster’s Collegiate __Dictionary. Pecimen pages, ete, of both books sent On application. G. GC, Merriam Co., Springfield, Mass, OVERHOLT CHEAP, STRONG AND DURABLE, Wit! Hold 26 Numbers. a Mailed to any part of the United about lifeinsurance may bewrong. If you wish to know the truth, send for “How and Why," issued by the Pasx “Morvan Live, 921-3-5 Chestout Street, Philadelphia. ‘States for $1.00. Address Office of ‘‘LIFE,”’ 12 West Thirty-first St., New York. RYE We do not fill short measure bottles. BOTTLED IN BOND direct from the barrel. A. Ovenuoit & ‘Co., PITTSBURG, PA. comicbooks.com