Life — May 3, 1917 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Richmond Straight Cut Cigarettes Advertisement This is primarily a **cigarette advertisement** rather than political satire. The engraving depicts a 19th-century street parade or public gathering, likely referencing a historical event when cigarettes were novelties in America. The ad's narrative claims that even two generations prior, the "Mayor and the Banker" were proud to belong to the local Fire Company and valued Richmond Straight Cuts for their Virginia tobacco quality. The text emphasizes the product uses *domestic* Virginia tobacco (avoiding import duties), positioning this as economically advantageous compared to imported alternatives. The phrase "quite as interesting to me as the Parade" suggests cigarettes were considered sophisticated entertainment worthy of gentlemen's attention. This reflects early-20th-century marketing strategies targeting affluent male consumers.