Life, 1901-05-02 · page 22 of 22
Life — May 2, 1901 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a man at a counter struggling to articulate what he wants, stammering through nonsensical syllables ("ER—FR—I WANT—ER—ER"). The caption identifies this as "Moonshine," referencing illegal homemade liquor during Prohibition. The satire targets how people were forced to speak obliquely about alcohol due to legal restrictions. The man cannot simply say "whiskey" or "beer," so he stammers uselessly—mocking both the absurdity of Prohibition laws and the linguistic gymnastics required to discuss forbidden drink. The page's heavy alcohol advertising (Evans' Ale, Maryland Club whiskey, Martell's brandy) underscores the irony: while these brands advertised openly (likely pre-dating strict Prohibition or in magazines with limited enforcement), ordinary people faced legal jeopardy and had to speak in coded language about what they wanted.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHAT HE WANTED. There's Delight and Contentment Health and Long Life in every bottle of Evans’ Ale Freed from the dregs which of old were the objectionable features "in Ale lub Pure Rye Whiskey It tastes old because “PLEASE f WANT A PRNNORTH OP—ER—FR—1 WANT—ER—ER—" “HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU CAME POK 1" “Ves, THAT'S WHAT 1 WANT.” ownaTes “cauraon.* A PIECE-OFFERING settles the candy question. Candy lovers all agree on the special goodness of Whitman’s CHOCOLATES AND CONFECTIONS. re sold everywhere. Whitman’s Instantaneous C! is perfect in flavor and healthful. Made instani —Moonshine. Pears’ Pretty boxes and odors are used to such would touch if he saw them un- sell soaps, as no one disguised. Beware of a that depends on something outside of it. Pears’, the finest soap in the world is scented or not, as you wish; and the money is in the merchan- dise, not in the box. soap All sorts of stores sell it, especially druggists; all sorts of people are using it. PRESS OF THE 4, W. PRATT CO.. NEW YORK it is old CAHN, BELT & CO., Baltimore, Md. Ask for MARYLAND CLUB And see that you get tt, “A Genuine Old Brandy made from Wine.” — Medical Press (London), Aug, 1899. MARTELL'S THREE STAR BRANDY AT ALL BARS AND RESTAURANTS. As Clean as Home-made Bread N spNse “ GUM comicbooks.com