Life, 1915-05-13 · page 2 of 52
Life — May 13, 1915 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. The page celebrates Richmond Straight Cut cigarettes, produced by Allen & Ginter (Liggett & Myers successor) in Richmond, Virginia. The advertisement uses patriotic imagery—showing the U.S. Capitol Building and referencing America's founding—to market the product. It claims the cigarettes were created in 1871, the same year Washington D.C. began major development, and boasts 44 years of consistent quality. The ad targets "gentlemen of the First Families of Virginia," appealing to regional pride and social status. The packaging shown includes a tin box option (50 for 40 cents; 100 for 75 cents). This reflects late-19th/early-20th-century advertising practices: linking consumer products to nationalism and social prestige.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Richmond Straight Cut PLAIN& CORK_TIPS It was in 1871 that we started transforming Only 3? Stars ~ Washington from a Also packed in attractive tin boxes, 50 for 40 cents: 100 for 75 cents. Sent prepaid if your dealer cannot supply you. Ment Gurdery RICHMOND, VirGinia,US.A. LIGGETT&MYERS TOBACCO CO. successor straggling town into the mar- velousCity Beautiful of today. Although we had only thirty- seven states then, instead of forty-eight, the plan was so comprehensive that it has met the needs and growth of our National Capital for 44 years. It was the same year that Rich- PREFERRED BY GENTLEMEN NOW AS THEN CIGARETTES mond Straight Cuts created a new ideal of greater delicacy and mildness in cigarettes. Created for the gentlemen of the First Families of Virginia, they soon became the choice of gentlemen everywhere. In all these 44 years, the quality of RichmondStraight Cuts has never varied. They continue to be the «Best ofall Virginia Cigarettes.”” comicbooks.com