Life, 1912-10-10 · page 41 of 48
Life — October 10, 1912 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a romantic Eastern-themed poem about a pilgrim who discovers a magical mirror in the desert. The narrative is largely whimsical fiction with no clear political satire—it's a literary piece about finding treasure and self-reflection (literal and figurative). The page is dominated by **advertisements**: fish from a Massachusetts company (salt mackerel, codfish, lobster) sold directly to consumers, and Pond's Extract Company's Vanishing Cream. The cream ad emphasizes beauty benefits—softening rough skin damaged by sun and wind—using before/after photographs of women. There is no political cartoon or caricature visible. The page functions primarily as a magazine filler combining serialized fiction with commercial advertising, typical of early 20th-century Life magazine content. The "satire" implicit in the mirror poem—that material wealth brings self-knowledge—contrasts ironically with the consumer products below, suggesting Life's editorial position on modern American consumer culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Magic Mirror; or The Way to Wealth One evening—'tis an Eastern story— The lily slept, the bat was flitting, The sun on clouds of crimson glory Was, like an ancient Sultan, sitting; The sky was dew, the The camels by the tents were grazing, A Pilgrim sat beneath a palm, Upon the Western splendor gazing. ir was balm, He plucked in careless reverie A bud beside him; was't a flame ‘That quivered on his startled eye? From earth the little luster came. He lisped a prayer, and half in terror, The night had just began to close him, Dug up the turf and found 9 mirror, And hid the sparkler in his bosom. xt morn ere Sol’s first ray had shot, The Pilgrim gazed upon his treasure; The edge with mystic shapes was wrought, SALT MACKEREL, CODFISH, FRESH LOBSTER FOR Tie is / NOT THE CONSUMER DEALER FOR YOUR OWN TABLE FAMILIES who are fond of FISH can be supplied DIRECT from GLOUCESTER, MASS., by the FRANK FISH COMPANY, with newly caught KEEPABLE H choicer than any inland dealer couki pos- ONLY TO THE CONSUMER DIRECT. sending by EXPRESS RIGHT TO YOUR HOME. We PREPAY east of Kansas on orders above 3.00, Our fish are pure, Appetizing and economical and we want YOU to try some, payment subject to your approval, _ SALT MAGKEREL, the fat. meaty. j sh are deti- cious for breakfasi. They are freshly packed in brine and will not spoil on your hands. CODFISH, as we salt it, is white, boneless and ready for instant use. it makes a substantial meal, a fine change from meat at much lower cost, _FRESH LOBSTER is the best thing known for salads, Right fresh from the wate . our lobsters are simply boiled and packed in PARCHMEN' -LINED GANS, They come to you as the purest and safest lobster you can buy and the meat is as crisp and natural as if you took it from the shell your- self, FRIED CLAMS are a relishable, heart whole family will enjo: ‘favor clams, whether fried oF in a chowder. FRESH MACKEREL, perfect for frying, SHRIMP to cream on toast, CRABMEAT for Newburg of devilied ON ready to serve. SARDINES of all kinds, TU sald, SANDWICH FILLINGS and every good thing packed here or abroad, you can get here and keep right on your ish that your t like that of pantry shelf for regular or emergency Use. With every order we send BOOK OF RECIPES for preparing all our produ hir list tells how each kind of fish is put up, with the delivered price. so . You can choose just what you will 39" | enjoy most. Send the coupon for it now, onek Let Gloucester be er your Fish Market Or, Dace and Dasis be your sh Obs Saw ® Fishman, ¢? ynrt Pe aa What one application will do APPLY Vanishing Cream gently, without massaging, to your face, neck and arms. Put on plenty and allow the skin to take it up completely. You will be surprised at the result. Vanishing Cream needs no massag- ing, should be rubbed on light. Tight, dry skin becomes softened and smoothed. Rough skin is ban- ished. Coarsened skin takes on a transparency and delicacy which shows that a skin which has suffered from exposure to sun, wind and dust can be completely made over by Pond's Extract @mpany’s VANISHING CREAM To put your skin into condition, to make it possible to wear a dinner gown with pride, use Vanishing Cream tonight. Notice its ready absorption, its delightful perfume of Jacque roses, and particu- larly the effect of just one application. Pond’s Extract for Pond’s Extract has been used for sixty years for everyday eas injuries. Most of us can remember many occasions Burns, Bruises, Cuts when having it available has saved hours of suffering. Get a bottle today. You will be surprised how frequently you will use it. Try These Products On penueats we wil mail samples of both at Our Expense Pond’s Extract and Vanishing Cream. Upon receipt of 4c in stamps we will send an extra large trial tube of Vanishing Cream. Address The Pond’s Extract Company, Dept. L., 131 Hudson Street, New York. Our tooth paste, talcum powder, cold cream and soap have the same individuality which characterizes all of the products of the Pond’s ExtractCompany..They are different from or- dinary loilet preparations, Why not try them? . by chance, the mirror glisten, azed, and saw her wrinkles Wreath'd in a dance of love and pleasure. But in the center was the wonder: His face with youth and beauty shone! Old Time had yielded up his plunder, \ dozen like herself soon gazed, And each beheld a blooming beauty ; The story through the city blaz , ae Their alms were but a Moslem’ His hour of precious gazing o'er, ae The Pilgrim strayed to Bagdad city; Then sat him by a kiosk door, By Allah! fifty years were gone! duty! men and maids by thousands gathered, Each visage won the rose’s dye; And tuned his pipe, and sang his ditty; The Pilgrim’s'nest was quickly feathered, But not a soul would stop to liste The mirror’s name was—flattery! At last an ancient dame pass’d by ; we Timed: 1977 comicbooks.com