Life, 1914-07-30 · page 40 of 40
Life — July 30, 1914 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **tobacco advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Bull Durham smoking tobacco to wealthy, fashionable men across America—from exclusive Fifth Avenue clubs to resort destinations like Palm Beach and Coronado. The ad uses aspirational messaging, claiming that men of "exquisite senses" and refined taste choose Bull Durham for hand-rolled cigarettes. The Latin phrase "Experientia docet" (experience teaches) appeals to sophisticated judgment. The top image shows two containers of loose tobacco with rolling papers, emphasizing the product's portability for the leisure class. The advertisement cost 5 cents per bag and included free rolling papers. This reflects early 20th-century marketing that associated tobacco consumption with wealth, sophistication, and social status—messaging that would be illegal in modern advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
hate from one corner of the United States to the ther from the swagger Fifth Avenue club to the gay casino at Coronado or Palm Beach—wherever you go—to polo match, yacht or motor race, the golf club, on the beach —you find men of wealth, fashion and fastidious taste using Bull Durham “Experientia docet.” The man of exquisite Rs - senses,—the Epicurean judge of flavor, fj R aroma and fragrance— KANYs) knows that no other \ J tobacco can give the relish and gusto of “Bull” Durham in a hand-rolled cigarette. C the Bag EVERY WHERE