Life, 1916-01-13 · page 39 of 44
Life — January 13, 1916 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes fiction and advertising with little overt political content. The main narrative excerpt describes "Jumping Jack," a flea, escaping from a stage professor and ending up biting a dog named Rags—a slapstick comedic scenario typical of Life's humorous storytelling. The "Weekly Literary Letter" section offers satirical commentary on publishing trends circa 1910s-1920s: publishers' hardness, the flood of "imagist" poetry, topical songs replacing serious literature, and weak demand for war dispatches and fiction. This reflects wartime or post-war cultural shifts. The bulk of the page comprises product advertisements: Cook's champagne (positioning American wine against European), Carstairs Rye whiskey (claiming historical prestige), and Packer's Tar Soap (medicinal claims about hair health). These ads typify the era's marketing style—appeals to connoisseurship, patriotism, and pseudo-scientific health benefits. No specific political figures or events are caricatured. The page is primarily commercial.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“15 a marko Connoisseurship . & zons could not be wiped out. Jumping Jack closed his eyes and leaped. Amanda had not gone more than five minutes before the Professor was howling in rage and sorrow. “Vere iss dot flea?” he stormed at Hawk Eye. “Vere iss he, I say?” Then without waiting for that abashed one to reply, he answered, “He iss gone, gone, gone! Nefer again shall we see him. Did I not say ‘ Vatch der fleas ven I turns me back, yet’?” And he moaned in anguish as he hastily searched every crack in his stage for the vanished flea, in vain. Ten blocks away Rags was also howling in anguish. He had slipped from the grasp of his mistress and was sitting upon the pavement, work- ing vigorously to get at the end of his tail. There, just out of reach of the flustered Rags, sat Jumping Jack, the ACKER’S Tar Soap is good for the scalp because it cleans, soothes, heals —and healthy scalps encourage healthy, lu trous hair. The mere operation S- of applying its fragrant, pine laden lather to one’s ha is beneficial. The pre: air ing, the kneading and all the other processes that constitute what is known as shampooing —they all help. And when the lather is rinsed out and the hair is once more dry, there re- mains a feeling, not only of absolute cleanliness, but of delightful exhilaration. Packer's Tar Soap “Pure as the Pines” best educated flea in the world, biting savagely to make up for five years lost. Our Weekly Literary Letter (From the Purely Commercial Stand- point) RINTING HOUSE SQUAR Publishers were hard and unyield- ing, love interests reigning supreme, blood curdlers comparatively quiet. In poetry the imagists flooded the market, but towards noon there was a rush of * Champagne The wine that gave American cham- pagne its fame. Better than Europe affords 2x» the best America affords 2 best afforded by all Americans, We orders for the ad specialties, with a marked pyramidic tendency. Several A combination of pure vege- pools were formed in the Lake poets, table oils, glycerine and pine and gilt-edged Indianas went for a tar. Send 10c for sample. Cook’s knows no other duty than to please you. song. Topical songs went with a rush, spooners were soft and mushy Ella Wheeler Wilcoxes sagged notably. Best sellers fell off considerably as the of practical information market advanced, the trading being sent free on request. very light. War dispatches were fitful, — there being no great call for any fic- Packer's Liquid Yar Soap tion. Perfumed—just enough to be agreeable. A thorough cleanser. Convenient to use. Made for those who prefer a liquid shampoo of quality, Liberal sample toc, THE PACKER MFG. CO. 81 Fulton St Sold everpwhere— Served everywhere ur Manual: “The Hair and Scalp—Modern Care Sens SNECS) and Treatment” 36 pages St. Louis, U.S. A. 1 A Year Before The Father of His Country Took the Oath of Office Carstairs Rye was the country’s standard. Each succeeding year has shown increased popularity. Used '. “straight,” or in High Balls, Carstairs t Rye—in the non-refillable bottle—has } ' H ae no superior. WHISKEY comicbooks:com