Life, 1916-11-09 · page 27 of 40
Life — November 9, 1916 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward product advertisement for canned soup, occupying most of the page. The ad quotes an unnamed female purchaser claiming "I expect every dollar to do its duty!"—appealing to early 20th-century values of household economy and domestic responsibility. The copy targets the "capable home manager," emphasizing that Franco-American Soups guarantee consistent quality and nutrition across every meal, unlike homemade cooking which has "awkward disappointments." The ad highlights their **Consommé** as the premium product, describing its transparent amber clarity as proof of quality. Pricing is modest (20 cents per can). The only visual is a **product label** showing the soup can and a woman serving soup—typical advertising imagery of the era. This reflects early 1900s marketing that sold convenience foods to middle-class housewives by validating their desire for reliable, economical meal preparation while emphasizing that store-bought could match or exceed homemade quality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
@ soup of the epieure expect every dollar to do its duty! " Tt was a purchaser of Franco-American Soups who said this. Experience had taught her that the exclusive quality of these soups gives them also an exclusive value and economy for regular every-day use in the home. How else, indeed, can the capable home manager be absolutely certain, at every meal, of the high quality, the daintiness, the nourishment of her soup? Even the best of home- kitchens has its awkward disappointments but the splendid quality of Franco-American Soups is uniform and invariable. Witness the Consommé. A really good consommé is as rare as the proverbial day in June, but the Franco-American Consommé stands as unchallenged Perfection in this difficult test of culinary art. Sleek fore-quarters of choicest beef yield the rich nutritive meat juices, clarified to a beautiful transparent amber. One may see to the bottom of the cup. The seasoning is most delicate; the flavor delicious, appetizing, gently and blandly stimulating. Try this famous Consommé. Your grocer will have it. Twenty cents the can—Double size, thirty-five cents Merely heat before serving At the better stores Franco - Almerican Soups Selections : Tomato Julienne Clam Chowder Mock Turtle utton Broth Chicken Ox Tail, thick Clear Vegetable Beef Clear Ox Tail Vegetable, thick Pea Consommé Chicken Consomms Mulligotawny Bouillon Chicken Gumbo Green Turtle, thick (45¢) Clear Green Turtle (60c) Franco-American Broths for Invalids and Children Bee: i Mutton—IS5c the can SSezooeae (eco ericoN roo co | comicbooks.com