Life, 1914-12-03 · page 89 of 92
Life — December 3, 1914 — page 89: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **cruise ship advertisement**, not a satirical cartoon. It promotes the United Fruit Company Steamship Service's "Great White Fleet" for luxury tropical voyages. The page shows a woman gazing at a large passenger ship, with romantic language ("white as a swan") emphasizing elegance and comfort. The advertisement highlights Caribbean destinations (Cuba, Jamaica, Panama Canal) and promises deluxe accommodations, courteous service, and gourmet dining. The accompanying map illustrates the Caribbean cruise route. A secondary ad promotes a book called "The Story of ala Carte," tracing dining history from 4500 B.C. to present. **Context for modern readers**: This represents early-20th-century leisure tourism marketing, targeting wealthy Americans. The emphasis on "American flag" sailing and tropical destinations reflects both industrial expansion and the era's imperial attitudes toward Central America and the Caribbean—regions where United Fruit held significant economic and political influence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“there she lies white as a swan— our home for two weeks” —and such a home; all the staterooms are outside rooms, de luxe and en suite; there are baths in plenty; spacious decks; meals that tempt the appetite. Courteous service ; restful ease. Havana, the beautiful; Jamaica, “Land of Smiling Summer ;” the Panama Canal; the romantic byways of the Spanish Main—you can enjoy them all in the wonderful ships of the GREAT WHITE FLEET, built es- pecially for tropical travel. Sailings of GREAT WHITE FLEET Ships from New York and New Orleans every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Cruises from 17 to 22 days to CUBA, JAMAICA, PANAMA CANAL, COLOMBIAN PORTS, CENTRAL and SOUTH AMERICA Liberal stopover prroileges granted. Ships sailing from New York on Wednesdays and on all days from New Orleans are Ameni- can-plan service; fate includes meals and | berth. Cruises de luxe from New York, sailings every Saturday on the palatial new } steamers, Pastores, Tenadores and Calamares. | A la carte service on these ships only. Pay | for what you eat. OFFICES FOR INFORMATION Long Wharf, Boston ; 630 Common Street, New Or- Jeans; 1955 Continental and Commercial Bank Build- ing, Chicago, or any ticket or tourist agent; of write PASSENGER DEPARTMENT UNITED FRUIT COMPANY STEAMSHIP SERVICE 17 Battery Place, New York for folders, sailing list and full information. for our new book ~edition de laxe- The Story of ala Cart A historic gem, in which iy telated in Ancient Medieva| and Modern times what peo- ple ate at Sea--and how. A story of sea dining, {rom 4.500 B.C. to date. COMPANY STEAMSHIP SERVICE comicbooks.com