Life, 1901-05-02 · page 21 of 22
Life — May 2, 1901 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon by Tom Bowers depicts two working-class men in a humorous dialogue about job transitions. One appears to be a laborer leaving employment; the quoted exchanges ("Why did you leave your last place?" / "How was that?") suggest comic miscommunication about reasons for quitting. The Mencken attribution indicates satirical commentary on working-class employment instability or the absurdity of exit interviews. The lower half features **Nestor Cigarettes** advertising with an Egyptian pharaoh head—a popular visual trope of the era exploiting "exotic" imagery for product branding. The page is primarily **commercial advertising** for period goods: van Houten's cocoa, Columbia electric automobiles (marketed on reliability and simplicity), the Overland Limited railroad to California, life insurance, and banking services. These ads reflect early 1900s consumer culture targeting middle-class readers. The satirical content is minimal; this is largely a standard magazine advertising page with one humorous cartoon commentary on labor relations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
of Unequalled Value as a Household Beverage. g Bold at all grocery stores—order it next time. AUTOMOBILES IN SIXTH YEAR OF SUCCESSFUL SERVICE _ pees ora me |Reliabilit meee One Charge |i Simplicity “WHY DID YOU LEAVE YOUR LAST PLace?"* Send for ee of Batteries | 1901, twstratea catatorve | Cleanliness | and Revised Price List. “Mow was THAT acl ee meee or poeta ELECTRIC VEHICLE CO., 100 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. All you have guessed about life insurance ma, PAY be wrong. Ifyou wish to know the truth, send for POST~ wench scree AGE. Strect, Philndelphias (i. °° 4 ' The Luxurious Every- Day Train to California The Overland Limited leaves Chicago 6.30 p. m. via Chicago & North-Western, Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railways. Dining Cars a la carte. Buffet Library Cars with barber. Draw- ing Room Sleeping Cars without change. The best of everything. Send for booklet “California Illustrated.” 461 Reoadway, - Transact a geasral banking business. Receive deposits subject to “Grate CHEAP, STRONG AND OURABLE, | reat caliected ‘a Will Hold 26 Numbers. t i States for ; 41 WALL ST, N. ¥. $1.00. Members N.Y. Stock Exchange, ales, "et: bougbt and sold on commission. DEAL IN ow ow ww >, ow ww wae => Matou to any part of the Catted BANKERS, ( A , + dress Office of “LIFE, High- Grade Investment Securities, 29) Bola Beit Tota oun 19 West Thirtysitest St, New Yorks st aC SEES teria tree gk SER on, PHILADELPHIA CORRESPOND - comicbooks.com ee ee oe we ow aw ae ae ae