Life — July 31, 1913 — page 36: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is primarily a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. The image shows an ornate frame containing an architectural drawing of what appears to be a British cathedral or institutional building with twin towers, surrounded by period buildings and bare trees. A cigarette package is displayed prominently in the lower left. The ad's text reads "A Shilling in London / A Quarter Here," emphasizing the product's value proposition—Pall Mall cigarettes cost less in America than their British equivalent costs in London. The heraldic emblem at the top and formal architectural presentation lend the advertisement prestige and sophistication, marketing these cigarettes as upscale products to American consumers in the early 20th century.