Life, 1916-06-15 · page 37 of 48
Life — June 15, 1916 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **two advertisements** and a short satirical piece, typical of Life magazine's format. **"Evolution" piece**: A philosophical satire personifying Evolution as a modern force replacing traditional religion (Jehovah). It critiques Social Darwinism—the misuse of evolutionary theory to justify social upheaval, crime, and government change as "natural progress." The reference to Herbert Spencer (a 19th-century philosopher who popularized "survival of the fittest") anchors this as commentary on how evolution was weaponized to rationalize harmful policies. **Waterman's Fountain Pen ad**: A conventional advertisement targeting travelers ("before you roam / When Summer turns your steps from home"), showing a well-dressed couple with luggage at what appears to be a train station or travel hub. **Rameses Cigarettes ad**: Markets cigarettes as distinctive and memorable, contrasting themselves against "placid mediocrity" of competitors. The name "Aristocrat of Cigarettes" and emphasis on forming "strong opinion" suggests appeal to discerning consumers seeking status differentiation. All three are period advertising/content typical of this magazine's satirical yet commercial nature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen Buy a Waterman’ Fdeal before you roam | When Summer turns your steps from home Evolution “Some call it evolution and others call it God.” l AM Evolution. In my name are committed most of the crimes that history records. 1am Herbert Spencer's child, but clusive 1 come of a long line. My ancestry cturers goes back to Heraclitus. When murders are committed, it is said to be my process of making men better. When governments change, I did it. . I am the modern substitute for Jehovah. Progress is my progeny. My other name is mutability. I am the accommodation elevator for humanity. “Going up?” or “Going down?” That, by the way, is my secret. Rameses. A very peculiar cigarette. You may not like it. But be very sure that you will form a strong and definite opinion one way or the other. The reason for the constant changing in brands among cigarette smokers is a certain soft neu- trality of flavor characteristic of most varieties. The only variation in placid mediocrity is on the box. If almost any decent brand satisfies you, you -probably will not care for Rameses, ‘“‘The Aristocrat of Cigarettes.” But if you are seeking a very definite and dis- tinctive cigarette, unlike others—unforgettable— the one cigarette for your personal and indi- vidual taste—then you are coming to Rameses. Soon. Remember, Nobody ever changes from Rameses. comicbooks.com