Life, 1913-12-04 · page 28 of 112
Life — December 4, 1913 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement**, not a cartoon or satirical content. Franklin Simon & Co., a New York department store, is showcasing "Useful Gifts for Women" from their inventory. The page displays photographs of luxury personal care items arranged decoratively around a price list: combs, brushes, mirrors, manicure sets, traveling cases, picture frames, clocks, decorative hairpins, silk stockings, and embroidered handkerchiefs. These are high-end goods typical of early 20th-century women's fashion and grooming. The satire here is **implicit rather than explicit**: the products themselves—rhinestone hairpins, monogrammed items, silk hose with hand-embroidered details—reflect the era's emphasis on women's appearance and domestic refinement. There are no political figures or caricatures to identify; this is straightforward commercial advertising masquerading as lifestyle content in a magazine known for humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MWK LIPE Steno) Franklin Simon & Co. Fifth Avenue, 37th and 38th Sts., New York Useful Gifts for Women No. 3. Three-piece set of “Par- fait” English ivory, script monogram; 3 to §_ initials Value $6.50 No. 3a Set without monogram Value $5.50 No. 5 Morocco leather travel- ing case, Black, Purple, Green or Red, lined with moire silk, equipped with nine Ivory toilet pieces. Value $9.75....... 6.98 No. 7 White Ivory Picture frame, square or oval insert, 8 x 6 inches........ +145 No.9 White Ivory Clock... 2.45 No. 11 Rhinestone inlaid hair- pin of Demi Blonde or Amber. Value $3.00......0.eeee0+ 1.98 No. 13. Rhinestone inlaid hair- pin of Demi Blonde or Amber. Value $4.00 No. 15 Hinge-top, rhinestone inlaid hair-pin of Demi-Blonde or Amber. Value $5.00.... 3.95 No. 17 Demi Blonde or Amber hair-pin, hinge top of platinum finish, mounted with thine- stones. Value $7.50. No. 19 Pure thread si white or pink, self- sole and top, assorted designs pair 95 3 pair for 2.75 No. 21 Pure thread silk, black, white, tan and all colors, lisle or silk sole and garter tops. All weights. Value $1.35 No. 23 Pure thread silk, black or white, with lace insertion and self hand-emb'd. Dub. L. garter top, assorted designs, ali weiehts pair 2.85 3 pair for 7.85 No. 25 Pure thread silk hose, in white, light blue or pink, hand-emb'd in self color. Dub. L. garter top. Value $2.50 1.95 No. 27 Pure thread black silk, hand-emb'd in self or colors, also white, light blue or pink, self-emb'd, assorted patterns, Dub. L. garter top, pair 1.95 3 pair for 5.70 No. 29 Pure thread silk in black, with self or white hand- emb'd clox, lisle sole, garter top. Value $1.85 -1.35 No. 31 Embroidered Handker- chief, one corner Madcira effect each .25 No. 33 hamrock Handker- chief, corded border, colored initial.. .......box of 6 .75 No. 35 Embroidered linen handkerchiefs, assorted designs .-box of 3 1.00 No. 37 Two-inch hem kerchief, with colored initia Box of 6 1.00 No. 39. French Hand-embroid- ered linen handkerchief, hand-hemstitched. Box of 3 1.50 ComichHooksSteom