Life, 1911-09-14 · page 36 of 46
Life — September 14, 1911 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertisements** for luxury goods interspersed with one cartoon. The main content includes wedding cake services (Dean's), clothing (Brooks Brothers), and brandy (Martell's). The cartoon depicts **a lion questioning a man about pure food law compliance**—a topical reference to early 20th-century American food safety regulation (likely the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act). The joke implies the man cannot guarantee safety, making him less trustworthy than a wild animal. Below is an anecdote titled "His Ambition," recounting a story about **King Frederick II of Prussia** and the French philosopher Marquis d'Argens. When asked what he'd do as King of Prussia, d'Argens quipped he'd sell the kingdom to acquire a French province instead—a witty commentary on French cultural superiority and Prussian inferiority, which would have amused Life's educated readership. The page reflects turn-of-the-century American attitudes: consumer confidence, European sophistication, and mild mockery of German pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Suggestions for Weddings Send us the Color and Flower Scheme of your Wedding, the number of guests expected at the Reception and the size of the Bridal Party, and we will be pleased to send you suggestions of DEAN'S latest New York ideas, with prices of Wedding Cake in Boxes with monograms of distinctive design, filled with DEAN'S famous Wedding Cake; the Bride’s Cake, containing special gifts; unusual Favors for the Bridal Party, Cases for the Ices, Special Confetti, the Bride's Cake Knife, etc., etc. EXPRESSAGE PREPAID TO ANY SHIPPING POINT WHERE THE EXPRESS RATE 1S $1.50 OR LESS PER HUNDRED POUNDS. Visitors to New York olwoys welcome. Established ’ 628 Fifth Ave. 72 Years New York \>CLOTHINGS cae botatNes > Our Boys’ Department contains every- thing needed for school outfits. Clothing; Furnishings; Hats and Shoes. Send for Illustrated Catalogue and School List. BROADWAY, Cor. TWENTY-SECOND ST., NEW YORK MARTELL’S BRANDY has known but One Quality--- The Best BLUE AND SILVER LABEL Messrs. Martell & Co. have been appointed to supply Brandy to the House of Lords HOUSE EST, 1715 Sole Agents: G. S. NICHOLAS & CO, New York SSNSKNNSANSKNNKN SSRN ANN ENS SN SENNNSS SSN SSNASSSSSSSNSKENSS: NNN The Lion: %R—PanvoN ME—ARE YOU GUARANTEED UNDER THE PURE FOOD Laws? His Ambition Ar the time that Frédéric II. used to sup with his French philosophers, he demanded of them one day: “ What would you do if you were the King of Prussia?” Every guest tried a flattering and witty rejoinder. When the Marquis d’Ar- gens’s turn came, he said: “ Sire, what would I do? I would sell my kingdom and acquire a small province in France.”