Life, 1915-10-21 · page 41 of 52
Life — October 21, 1915 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **editorial satire targeting William Randolph Hearst** alongside a **tobacco advertisement**. ## The Editorial Section (Left) "Miss Addams" refers to **Jane Addams**, the famous progressive reformer and pacifist. The author quotes extensively from Hearst's newspapers condemning American arms sales to the Allies during WWI, calling such profits "blood money." The satire's point: The author mocks Hearst's **hypocrisy**. The closing question sarcastically asks whether Hearst's editorial writers must be intoxicated ("plain grog or a mixture of whiskey, vodka, absinthe") to produce such fervent moral outrage—implying their passionate pacifism is artificially stimulated and insincere, likely masking pro-German sympathies. ## The Advertisement (Right) A **Velvet tobacco ad** featuring "Velvet Joe," a folksy character promoting pipe tobacco. The messaging emphasizes contentment with modest pleasures and Kentucky heritage. This appears incidental to the page's primary satirical purpose. The cartoon below shows a mail-fraud victim, providing additional satirical commentary on consumer deception.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
See a SR Smee SIS ee ee SY See, 1S NAO \' Plain Grog or a Mixture? A Question for Miss Addams EAR Miss Addams: Here is a short extract from one of many pieces in William Hearst's papers about the sin of selling shells and things to the Allies and making it harder for the Germans to wallop them: Citizens, we owe it to God, to mankind and to ourselves to try, at least, to stop this war. And, citizens, we are false to our duty to God, to mankind and to ourselves if, instead of trying to stop this war, we most wickedly provide the means of prolonging it. Every dollar of the profits carned by supplying the weapons and the moncy to prolong this war is a wicked dollar, an accursed dollar, stained, in the sight of God and in the eyes of all right-thinking men and women, with the blood and tears of suffering humanity. Americans, we cannot afford to have our country enriched with such meney as that. It is the price of innocent blood, the wages of humanity's betrayal, ab- horrent to every sentiment of manly and good American hearts. Better were it for our peace, our honor and our welfare, now and in time to come, that we sank the gold ten times over in the depths of the sea, rather than so to sell Europe's peoples to suffering and despair and death for wicked blood money. There, Miss Addams; have you read it? William has printed cords of such outcries lately on his editorial pages. Now, Ma'am, as an expert in military stimulants will you say whether in your opinion, when these attacks are ordered, William's editorial writers are worked up to the requisite frenzy on plain grog or on a mixture of whiskey, vodka, absinthe and ether? “ You SAY YOU WERE SWINDLED BY MAIL? Now Was THAT?” “T BOUGHT A MOVING-PICTURE THEATRE WHICH WAS GUARANTEED TO BE LOCATED IN ‘4 POPULATION OF 6,000, BUT THEY WERE ALL MOLES,” HAT?’S happiness? Havin’ jest a little less than we want, an’ the health to hustle f’r that “Tittle less.” Now VELVET has mo’ smokers by twice as many, as it had a year ago, but thar’s some left that ought to try it. Maybe you’re one of ’em. I won’t be happy till I get you. anti “Happy” Tobacco Grounds—There are some mighty fine things coming out of old Kentucky—poet, historian, novelist have found in its soil rare inspiration. But no greater inspiration draws richness from its soil and springs than Burley tobacco. Of the best of this is VELVET—the tenderest, finest leaf. A “Happy” Method—In such materials there is inspiration for care and kindly treatment. This VELVET gets from us at great expense in time and labor. The “Ageing” Idea—For two years VELVET matures and mel- lows in great wooden hogsheads, taking on a friendliness which Velvet Joe so well expresses in his homely philosophy. Do you know VELVET? It is the last word in pipe comfort. You will be happy if you get it. Put Happiness in your pipe bowl now. Panama-Pacific Exposition’s highest award—The Grand Prix—has been awarded to VELVET “for its superior quality.” . 10 Tins hn Lopate Myers Tebacco rx