Life, 1914-09-10 · page 44 of 48
Life — September 10, 1914 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines editorial satire with advertising. The main satirical piece, "The Voluntary Choice of Ignorance," mocks the modern impulse to consume information indiscriminately. The author argues that resisting the temptation to know things—such as details about foreign diplomats—should be considered admirable. The piece satirizes how information is now packaged and marketed like consumer goods in "literary market-shops," making it nearly impossible to avoid acquiring knowledge. The page also features advertisements for Lilas de Rigaud perfume (evoking nostalgic "old-fashioned gardens") and a prominent Vogue advertisement emphasizing that with the world at war, Vogue magazine has become not a luxury but a "necessity" for well-dressed American women. The Vogue ad exploits WWI uncertainty to market fashion guidance as essential.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: Lilas de Rigaud ‘THE old-fashioned garden. “hack home" is in its glory now-—so full of tender memo- ries of old joys and old friends that tue thought of it brings a longing unspeakable. To those of us, city-bound or travel-tired, who cannot go back at will and wander through its well-loved paths, there is le! il— Lilas de Rigaud, Perfume of Old-Fashioned Gardens and Tender Memories. The wonder of its sweetness will carry you back in dreams to the Land of Used-To-Be. Extract Toilet Water, Talcum, Face Powder and Sachet for sale at high-class Toilet Goods Departments. Afiven cents te RiderHegrman Coo 318 West th New Vork for liberal sample bettie af Litas de Rigiant ucts Faomous Mary Garden in extract ov sachete RIGAUD, Paris More Testimony “Tt is absolutely certain that pure vivisection has not discovered one thing of benefit to the human race.” —Dr. W. R. D. Blackwood, of Phila. AND many of those who practice it are well aware that it is not a science, but a brutal pastime. WHAT COMBS CAN bO The Voluntary Choice cf Ignorance I these days is there anything harder than resisting the temptation to know things? Information is no longer a matter of research, Artificially colored and sweetened to the taste, it is displayed in the most attractive manner in the literary market-shops, It is almost impossible, on any day of the week, to avoid buying an encyclopedia. You can hardly help knowing something. To resolutely set one’s face against this display ought to be considered a mark of character, Before .us, for example, is a list of all our diplomats abroad, with a short account of their lives. The man who compiled it thought he was doing somebody a service, but why should anybody in this country wish to know who our foreign repre- sentatives are? Isn’t it better not to know? little world of itself. Every ordinary source of fashion news cut off, American women everywhere—from the most exclusive importer in New York to the little dressmaker in the smaller towns, from the society leader who spends $500 on a single gown to the woman who doesn’t spend $500 in an entire season—have turned to Vogue. Wi the whole world at war the United States becomes a More than ever before, Vogue stands absolutely alone as the authoritative source of what will be worn by really well-dressed American women. More than ever before will you need its au- thoritative advice in your buying. Once, perhaps, you may have considered Vogue a luxury; this season, at least, Vogue is an absolute necessity for the woman who can't afford to waste money on clothes! Secure at once Vogue’s AUTUMN MILLINERY number, now ready This great number brings you all the authentic, accepted Autumn hats—the models that were shown at the opénings in Paris on the very eve of hostilities. And after the Millinery Number will come three immensely important fashion numbers: FORECAST OF AUTUMN FASHIONS Sept. 15 A complete review of the coming styles AUTUMN PATTERNS Oct. 1 Vogue's own selection from the new models WINTER FASHIONS Oct. 15 The whole accepted mode of 1914-1913 Remember that women everywhere are turning to Vogue— sweeping issue after issue off the newsstands within a day or two after it first appears. Don’t put off buying any number of Vogue. Better still, notify your newsdealer now that you will want every one of Vogue's forthcoming Fashion Numbers. 25 cents a number Twice @ month 443 Fourth Ave, New York bps Condé Nast, Publisher