Life, 1914-12-03 · page 86 of 92
Life — December 3, 1914 — page 86: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **tobacco advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes Tuxedo brand pipe tobacco, presented as an ideal Christmas gift for men. The ad targets affluent male consumers by emphasizing: - **Celebrity endorsements** (opera singer Caruso, actors Faversham and Lauder) to signal prestige - **Health claims** (no throat irritation, all-day smoking without damage) - **Superior product qualities** (slow-burning, mild Burley tobacco, proprietary "Tuxedo Process") - **Lifestyle appeal** (leisurely smoking by the fireside evokes sophistication and relaxation) The decorative tobacco leaf border frames the glass humidor jars shown at bottom. The copy stresses the humidor's practical benefit: keeping tobacco "fresh and moist" for weeks. By modern standards, the health assertions are strikingly false—the ad claims smoking causes "not the slightest irritation" despite being "endorsed by hundreds of distinguished public men," exploiting celebrity credibility to market an addictive, carcinogenic product to gift-givers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
That Pleases Every Man is a glass humidor of famous Tuxedo tobacco. Last Christmas thou- sands of men received this appropriate, delightful, sensible gift—and this year the number will be increased by many thousands. Give him a humidor of Tuxedo. It will last him for weeks—in his office or by his fireside—and each cool, mellow, fragrant whiff will recall you to him in pleased and thankful revery. Tuxedo can be smoked all day long without causing the slightest irritation to the smoker's throat or mouth, as is proved by the endorsement of Tuxedo by men like Caruso, William Faversham, Harry Lauder, and thousands of famous Amer- icans in professional, business and public life. Tuxedo is made from the finest, mildest leaves of high-grade Burley tobacco, carefully cured and aged so that it burns slow and cool, with de- lightful flavor and aroma. Tuxedo has the advantage—over other tobacccs—of the exclusive original “Tuxedo Process,” which Ilustration absolutely prevents “tcngue-bite.” Tuxedo is shut endorsed by hundreds of distinguished public men as the one perfect tobacco. The Humidor Jar keeps it fresh and moist to the last pipeful. YOU CAN BUY TUXEDO EVERYWHERE In Glass Humidors, 50c and 90c THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CO. Ccomicbooks.com