Life, 1913-03-20 · page 39 of 44
Life — March 20, 1913 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising content** from circa 1913, with one satirical anecdote embedded in the text. ## The Satire The main humor appears in the David Belasco story: a playwright whose new play was a complete failure sits in the front row during opening night. A woman behind him reveals she cut off a lock of his hair at the performance's start—as a good-luck charm—and now returns it, implying his hair couldn't help the doomed production. The joke mocks both theatrical superstition and the brutal unpredictability of the theater business. ## The Advertisements The page features product ads for motorboats (Elco), diamonds, a toothbrush, and—notably—**electric delivery vehicles**. The electric vehicle ad prominently displays survey data: 50 Chicago women were asked about preferred department stores; 47 cited one of four State Street establishments specifically because of their **prompt delivery service** using electric vehicles. This represents early 20th-century marketing showing how modern technology (electric vehicles) influenced consumer loyalty. The page reflects pre-WWI consumer culture and emerging advertising techniques using statistical claims.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
stlclty to the KS of age. Th Rot exercise | be exerci DRE Life’s Greatest Joy! Be cool—refreshed—invigor- ated, when the summer heat oppresses and enervates. In no way can this be realized ‘so completely as by the exhilaration whichcomesfromarideinan ELCO Express—24 miles an hour, with comfort and safety. Six cylinder en- gine and the Electric Self-Starter. The latest ELCO Cruiser is a mar- vel of completeness —only 45 ft. long, it has sleeping quarters for 8, with a private stateroom, and ali the seaworthiness of a big 65 footer. ELCOPLANES — 30 to 50 miles an hour guaranteed. Buiie under Elco and Fauber Patents Write us your requirements for any type of motor boat, Address 175 Avenue A 27 minutes from Liberty and 23rd Street Ferries, C.R.R. of N.J. to West 8th Street rag” ba green. | 2c per packs often see women looking with envy at me: 1910. Winter Sweater High shoe: sandals. Evening dress Princess combi Night dresses ( Long gloves.... ition (3 garments)... Lingerie ha Scarf Stockings . Sandals.» Summer § Princess combination (3 Night dresses (2 garments). Silk” umbrella Winter dress. Fur collar... Sandals . Bath robe o Princess combination (3 garments) - Night gowns (2 garments Norr.—My lace handkerchiefs, toise-shell combs and jewelry are given to me by dear friends. At a recent banquet David Belasco was being congratulated on the success of his play, “The Governor's Lady,” to which he respon “ Writing plays is risky business, Past triumphs don't count. He who has written twenty superb picces is just as likely to be damned on his twenty-first piece as any tyro. For instance: “A playwright of my acquaintance sat in the front row on a first night of a new piece of his own. The play was a complete failure. As my friend sat, pale and sad, amid the hisses, a woman sit- ting behind him leaned forward and Excuse me, sir; but, knowing you to be the author of this play, I took the liberty, at the beginning of the perform- ance, of snipping off a lock of your hair. Allow me to return it to you.” ears shrreor seat pontpail om receipt of price: SSend for Catalog of erigse, | Kee we ries. sige “Be Devt. Ln & CO... 144 Peart St, New York cpuine DIAMONDS Biregt fom, 17s, 2» SCG rathiam eee —Everybody’s. We buy direct om the Amsterdam Cu How we can make this $97. 50 per carat Price. possi rote Bore ask monaedee relece expenses tothe very lowest po make ating ort niin; Thun we sve Ber cara ‘Nailing retail prices! All 14k solid g¢ al manufacturing Coit. Jour ows chy. express office or tank, without payment In advance, without obligation Easy for you to see our Diamonds pee Leta shasitely at our expense ard rk.” Every diamond guaranteed gemuinc, i and proprtonce partand oriiantl contract to én cash shoud you return i Wonderful Money Back Guarantee seit Legally cerued! Our 3-year reputation lor VALUE GIVI vsthe tall ee Deke in exchange at any time! Carae Jo¢ page de luxe Basch Diamond Book, Free to you! er dec? nev' phil s ti Aciead tooth © Toeth Brush Brophy em women were asked In Chicago 50 women were asked which de- partment store they pre- ferred to patronize. of them said one or other of four establishments on State Street, because the deliveries | Were prompt. of said they had stopped patronizing certain | Stores because of relatively poor de- jlivery service. The four establishments Javored with patronage operate 189 Electric Commercial Vehicles. Doesnt this point to | Blectric Delivery |Economical, Dependable, Dignified Interesting Literature Sent Upon Request Evectric VEHICLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA NEW YORK: 124 W. 42nd St. BOSTON oy comicbooks.com