Life, 1912-05-02 · page 8 of 58
Life — May 2, 1912 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. The dominant image is a **Pabst Blue Ribbon beer advertisement** featuring a Black male waiter in formal attire serving oysters and champagne, with the slogan "Looks Good—Tastes Good." The ad claims the beer is "appropriate for all times and occasions" and marketed toward affluent diners at "Leading Hotels and Cafes." By modern standards, the imagery is strikingly offensive: the exaggerated facial features and servile pose reflect deeply racist caricature conventions common in early-20th-century American advertising. This representation reinforced degrading racial stereotypes, presenting Black Americans exclusively in subservient service roles. The surrounding page contains poetry and advertisements for gloves and a book on sexual education, typical of *Life* magazine's mixed editorial/commercial content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
od Ld A Modern Martyr The genial host, the jovial friend, The days are in the budding leaf; No longer deals in merry jest; The oyster and the sausage gone. But tells his troubles without end, To hear of golf—and nothing else! Which I detest. Is mine alone. 5 o— The husband, brother or the son “T landed on the green in four; To me will be a joy no more Then putted out in six—or cight.” They only care for games they've won ‘Tis this I hear, and plenty more, And show the-score. Early and late. Looks Good— | te eT Outdoor Sports T. Made especially for Mo- a Loring. Golfing. Cam ping. . Grinnell Gloves But if I hint at a new gown, Or fuss around about ah: I'm told by hubby (with a frown), “Enough of that.” Now is this fair, or is it just, hat golf comes always last and frst? For talk of clothes I really must, Or I shall burst! Old Times Back Again After the abdication of Bonaparte ia 1814 it was observea at a fashionab party in Paris that things were to : stored to the same state in whic ‘i Tam delighted to hear ‘ The Beer of Quality a lady who was no longer it of youth, “ en I sha cighteen ars of HE waiter knows that he is serving) a discriminating guest when ordered to bring Pabst “Blue Ribbon" Beer. This 1s the beverage beyond compare, and is appropriate for all times and occasions. Wholesome and refreshing—a delight to the eye and the palate—the perfection of brewing. Bottled only at the brewery in crystal clear bottles, showing at a glance that it is clean and pure. Serve it to your family and guests. Supplied by best dealers everywhere. Served in Leading Hotels and Cafes. 900