Life — May 16, 1918 — page 39: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is primarily a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. The ad for "Rameses" cigarettes uses Egyptian imagery—an ancient relief carving at the top depicting Ramses II—to suggest luxury and timelessness. The tagline "Nobody ever changes from RAMESES" implies brand loyalty and superiority (positioning the product as "The Aristocrat of Cigarettes"). The "Week End Tins" are promotional packaging, sealed "air-tight" for freshness. The small text suggests sending these tins as gifts to soldiers or loved ones. This reflects early 20th-century advertising that associated consumer products with historical prestige and exotic imagery. There is no political cartoon or satire here—it's a straightforward commercial pitch from Life magazine's advertising section.