Life, 1918-03-21 · page 5 of 56
Life — March 21, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
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.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Men who like their candy gifts to create more than the usual pleasure, with something of “ surprise ’” added, are very apt to send the Sampler. Certainly few women can resist the quaint charm of its appeal, or the daintiness and originality of its sweets. The Sampler typifies VWWhitman’s—famous since 1842. Each dainty chocolate and confection in this unique assortment is a delightful “sample” of the quality which has won for Whitman's a national repu- tation and a national vogue. The Sampler is sold by the leading drug stores (nearly everywhere) which are Whitman agents. One dollar the pound, or we will mail a Sampler to you postpaid on receipt of your order, if no agent is near you. Stephen F. Whitman & Son, Inc., Philadelphia, U. S. A. Makers of Whitman's Instantaneous Chocolate, Cocoa and Marshmallow Whip