Life, 1915-08-05 · page 33 of 44
Life — August 5, 1915 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page advertisement**, not satire or political cartoon. It promotes Perrier sparkling water to American consumers. The ad employs **patriotic association** by linking Perrier to Lafayette and French superiority—a marketing strategy leveraging American Francophilia. It references **M. Ritz**, the famous Swiss hotelier, as an authority endorsing the product's quality. The copy positions Perrier as elite: "the Champagne of Table Waters," available only at "high-class Hotels, Restaurants and Grocers." A notable health claim appears in the fine print: that Perrier treats gout and "uric acid troubles," common ailments among middle-aged, wealthy men—the target demographic. The bottle illustration emphasizes elegance and the "own Carbonic Gas" carbonation process. This reflects early-20th-century marketing emphasizing scientific sophistication and Continental refinement to justify premium pricing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
To quench hot weather thirst drink The Champagne of Table Waters. The enthusiasm for France inspired by Lafayette is re-inspired by Perrier. HE brilliance and delicacy of | Perrier are characteristically French. Perrier is as superior to other Table Waters as the famous French Champagnes are superior to ordinary wines. M. Ritz, the genius of the modern restaurant, once said: “‘Perrier is the finest sparkling table water in the world.’’ Today all the world knows it to be true. 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 troubles—the bugbear of middle-age. Obtainable at all high-class Hotels, Restaurants and Grocers. WILLIAMS & HUMBERT, Agents, Bubbling with its 1158, Broadway, New York. own Carbonic Gas. ee