Life — March 21, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "The Favorite Sampler" This is primarily a **Whitman's chocolate advertisement**, not satire. The illustration shows a woman in Victorian-era dress holding a Whitman's Sampler box, with the tagline "Started in 1842." The ad copy appeals to male gift-givers, suggesting the Sampler creates "surprise" and appeals to women's tastes better than typical candy gifts. It emphasizes the product's "daintiness and originality." **Historical context**: This reflects early 1900s gender norms where men purchased fancy chocolates as romantic gifts for women. The Sampler's variety ("sample") of assorted chocolates was marketed as especially appealing to female consumers. The ad notes availability "at the leading drug stores" and direct mail options—standard early advertising distribution. The page contains no political satire; it's straightforward commercial messaging using period-appropriate imagery and gender conventions.