Life, 1906-12-27 · page 23 of 33
Life — December 27, 1906 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **travel advertisement**, not satire or political cartoon. The United Fruit Company promotes Jamaica tourism to American readers, emphasizing exotic pleasures: sea bathing, mountain climbing, tropical forests, fishing, and colonial-era sites ("old forts, churches and plantations"). The image shows a woman in period dress observing locals on a beach—likely depicting the "strange, novel, native life" promised in the text. Modern readers should note the **colonial perspective**: Jamaica is presented as an entertainment destination for American tourists, with emphasis on "native life" as spectacle. The ad highlights practical amenities (hotels, macadam roads for automobiles) and health benefits, notably claiming "Malaria is impossible"—likely exaggerated. Shipping rates from multiple U.S. cities (Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore) underscore the accessibility for wealthy American travelers. This reflects early-20th-century tourism marketing that exoticized Caribbean destinations while serving American commercial interests.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CONTINUE SUMMER PLEASURES A sea bath in the morning—a mountain climb in the afternoon! Dniving on macadam roads —through tropical forests! Fishing for tropical fish in waters of crystal clearness. Old forts, churches and plantations enveloped with an atmosphere of deeds and romance! Enter- tainment on every hand by a strange, novel, native life! Where but in JAMAICA are there such fasci- nations of nature, history and humanity ? JAMAICA has the best of hotels and splendid macadamized roads for automobiling. Its climate is healing and invigorating. Malaria is impossible. Weekly sailings from Boston and | Steamers "Brookline" and "Barnstable" Philadelphia weekly from Baltimore Round trip . z ‘ . Fy $75.00 Round trip as é a Fs . $60.00 One way . 3 ‘ 3 ‘ z 40.00 One way . z A ‘ 5 35.00 RATES INCLUDE MEALS AND STATEROOM BERTH “A HAPPY MONTH IN JAMAICA” is a fascinating booklet we send on request. Address F. S. JOPP, General Passenger Agent UNITED FRUIT COMPANY, Long Wharf, Boston or Division Passenger Agents UNITED FRUIT COMPANY, 5 N. Wharves, Philadelphia; 104 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore ; 321 St. Charles Street, New Orleans. comicbooks.com