Life, 1911-08-24 · page 2 of 40
Life — August 24, 1911 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **commercial advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Wrigley's Spearmint gum using a uniformed doorman or bellhop figure pointing to direct a small child customer toward the product. The ad's messaging emphasizes that the gum is universally available ("the first store you come to") and sold everywhere—cigar stores, drugstores, candy shops, and small stands. It claims health benefits typical of early 20th-century advertising: pure mint leaf, white teeth, pure breath, and improved digestion. The "spear" logo reference and tagline "The flavor lasts!" were Wrigley's standard marketing. This represents typical American consumer advertising from the early 1900s, before modern regulations restricted health claims on candy products.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The first store you come to! # ce S f Cigar stores, drug stores, candy stores, tiny stands all sell the helpful tidbit. ___ The pure mint leaf juice makes it loved by all, from six to sixty. it because everyone likes it. come from it. Every store sells Millions of white teeth, pure breaths and fine digestions Chew the beneficial confection after all meals! Look for the spear! The flavor lasts! comicbooks Mend -com