Life, 1908-04-02 · page 44 of 44
Life — April 2, 1908 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Williams' Shaving Stick, a solid shaving soap product. The image shows a hand holding a cylindrical metal container with a hinged, nickeled cover. The advertisement's selling point is that Williams' soap won't "smart or dry on the face"—addressing common complaints about inferior shaving products of the era that reportedly caused irritation or uncomfortable drying. The marketing emphasizes purity and gentleness, arguing a man's face is "too conspicuous and too easily marred" to risk inferior soaps. The product cost 25 cents, with sample sticks available for 4 cents in stamps from J.B. Williams Company in Glastonbury, Connecticut. This reflects early 1900s grooming standards and mail-order commerce practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
April 2, 1908 Williams’ “The only kind that won't smart or dry on the face” A man's face is too conspicuous and too easily marred to risk the con- sequences of any shaving soap that is not as pure and soothing as Williams. It comes in The Nickeled Box Hinged Cover Williams’ Shaving Stick can also be had in the leatherette-covered metal box as formerly. Williams? Shaving Sticks sent on receipt of price, 25c., if your druggist does not supply you. A sample stick (enough for 50 shaves) for 4c. in stamps. Address The J. B. Williams Company, Dept. A. Glastonbury, Conn.