Life — February 20, 1913 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily **advertising and light entertainment** rather than political commentary. The left side features a poem titled "What Was It?" by Thomas R. Ybarra, humorously questioning Roman terminology for going "down" versus "up" (likely referring to elevator/escalator terminology). Below are ads for the film *Pippin* and a patent notice. The main image shows **decorative silver tea service pieces** from Theodore B. Starr, Inc.—a luxury goods advertisement emphasizing the "Henri the Second Tea Service" pattern's classical Renaissance beauty. The text stresses quality and competitive pricing. The bottom right contains a brief anecdotal piece titled "The Incompetent Georgie" about a six-year-old refusing school. This is paired with a **Redfern Corsets advertisement** offering three figure types at $3.50-$15.00. The page reflects early 20th-century consumer culture and gender marketing norms.