Life, 1901-10-17 · page 17 of 20
Life — October 17, 1901 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **book promotional contest**, not a political cartoon. It announces a $500 prize for readers to vote on which of twelve famous illustrators best depicted "Sylvia," the heroine of a new novel titled *Sylvia: The Story of an American Countess*. The page includes portraits of the character as imagined by prominent artists like Howard Chandler Christy and Albert Herter. Readers could register their choice and potentially win money—a early form of interactive marketing. The remainder of the page contains **period advertisements**: hair tonic, whiskey, garters, and a magazine subscription. Notably, there's a railroads ad promoting the Pan-American Exposition, suggesting this is from around 1901. **No satire or political content is present.** This is essentially a commercial page using beauty and artistic reputation to drive book sales and reader engagement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ETRE Ghe PRIZE on SYLVIA’S HEAD-is $500. S* LVIA 1a the herotne of a new novel, entitled Sylria: The Story of an American Countess She lived abroad, and Is described by one of her admirers as“ THE Most BEAUTIFUL Woman IN EcRork.” Twelve artists, known for thelr types of beautiful women. were Invited ‘ cach to make & drawing expressing his idea of the charming herolne. Thetr pictures are all *. Who mr reproduced in the book. By a natural suggestion, all persons who like * good story and ; admire beautiful women are now asked 0 give ‘thelr opinion of the types represented SYLVIA: The STORY of an AMERICAN COUNTESS By EVALYN EMERSON. With Pictures of the Heroine by Albert R. Blashfield, Carle J. Blenner, J. Wells Champney, Howard Chandler Christy, Louise Cox, Joseph De Camp, John Elliott, C. Allan Gilbert, Albert Herter, Henry Hutt, Alice Barber Stephens, A. B. Wenzel. ‘The person whose Ilst comes nearest to the choice of the majority will receive A PRIZE OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS (3500.00), cover. The voting Is ve the reader Is to register his choice. opinion ; and the prize of $500.00 Is worth guessing for. or send $1.50 direct to the publishers. one very ¥ Will te oUt sey ant. ‘AS wagineo oy Avocay HEATER . | ED. PINAUD'S «tn yon y buspire ed In tbe bat re art, liver, y and oy EAUY DE QUINT: HAIR TONIC THE BEST HAIR RESTORER A POSITIVE, DANDRUFF CURE A nalndres sing for every. ‘Fou 58 ROAUP BETTS CSE YOUR GRAND-FATHER USED IT AND NEVER ABUSED IT. If local dealers cannot supply it, address the distillers, BERNHEIM BROS., Louisville, Ky. The book Itself 1s a charming and clever love story, readable and Interesting from cover to simple. Each volume contains full particulars and # slip on which It ta 4 matter on which every one will naturally have an Order through the book stores, (Both these pictures copyright 1501 by) SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY SYLVIA 6 Pierce Building BOSTON SYLVIA As wancives or 6 AUAN Guoeer TO-DAY «- AND ... YESTERDAY THE MOST Unique, Artistic, Interesting, Convenient MONTHLY MAGAZINE » 135 FirtH Ave. 15c. Copy $1.50 Per Year The Standard for Gentlemen ALWAYS EASY The Name “BOSTON GARTER” is stamped fon every loop, SOLO EVERYWHERE. Sample pair, 8k Se. ‘Cotton Be, = aw BEVERY PAIR WARRANTED-@S handsome booklet, FREE. HAY & TODO MFG. CO., Ypsilanti, Mich. _ NEVER HAD AN EQUAL. Competent judges say that the Pan- American Exposition will be superior to anything of its kind ever seen on this continent, and it is within 12 hours’ ride of over forty million people. How can it fail to be a success when you consider that it is reached from all directions by the NEW YORK CENTRAL LINES, which comprise the New York Central, Boston & Albany, Michigan Central, Lake Shore, Big Four, Pittsburg & Lake Erie and Lake Erie & Western Railways? For a copy of the New York Central's Pan-Amert- can Exposition Folder, * Four-Track Series No. 15, send & postage stamp to George Hl. Dantels,Gen- w York Central Rallroad,