Life — September 2, 1915 — page 47: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **cigarette advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes Rameses cigarettes by Stephano Bros, described as "The Aristocrat of Cigarettes." The ad emphasizes they're the "Largest Selling 20¢ Cigarette" and notes they're available in "Week End" tins of 100. The decorative border features ornate scrollwork and stylized foliage. An open cigarette package is displayed prominently. The text and design employ period advertising conventions meant to convey luxury and status. For modern readers: This reflects early 20th-century marketing when cigarette advertising appeared regularly in mainstream publications without health warnings, and when premium cigarettes were marketed as status symbols to consumers.