Life, 1915-06-10 · page 33 of 48
Life — June 10, 1915 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. However, it contains nationalist messaging relevant to its historical context. The ad promotes Perrier sparkling water by positioning it as a French alternative to German table waters like Apollinaris. The text explicitly invokes **Lafayette**—the French Revolutionary hero—to create patriotic appeal, suggesting that choosing Perrier is choosing France over Germany. The illustrated bottle features a French military figure (appears to be a Napoleonic-era soldier based on the uniform and bicorne hat), reinforcing French national pride and superiority. The copy uses pseudo-scientific language (referencing Pascal, purity "at the source," natural carbonation) to legitimize health claims—typical of early 20th-century advertising before FDA regulations. The note about gout and "uric acid troubles" reflects period concerns about digestive ailments among the "middle-age" affluent class who could afford imported luxury goods. This advertisement conflates consumer choice with national loyalty during a period of Franco-German tension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The enthusiasm for France inspired by Lafayette is ve-inspired by Perrier, which stands as the great representative of France against Apollinaris and a host of other table waters from Germany. HEN Pascal said that the stream is always purest at its source, he unwittingly wrote a testimonial in advance for Perrier. Every drop of sparkling Perrier Water is bottled at the gushing, bubbling Perrier Spring. And there is something irresistibly appealing to refined taste in the fact that the brilliance of Perrier is entirely a natural brilliance. Perrier is bottled at the Springs in the South of France amidst the glorious French vineyards. There is no saltiness in Perrier, the great reason why it combines so perfectly with Wines and Spirits. N.B.—A glass of Perrier alone or with a slice of lemon in the early morning is invaluable in gout and uric acid stroubles—the bugbear of middle-age. Obtainable at all high-class Hotels, Restaurants and Grocers. WILLIAMS & HUMBERT, Agents, 1158, Broadway, New York. To quench hot weather thirst drink The Champagne of Table Waters. own Carbonic Gas. Comicbooks.com