Life — April 17, 1919 — page 37: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily a **tobacco advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes "Tuxedo" brand tobacco, marketed as "The Perfect Tobacco for Pipe and Cigarette." The illustration shows a man with a blindfold sampling tobacco, supporting the slogan **"Your Nose Knows"**—emphasizing that the product's quality is recognizable by smell alone, even without seeing it. The ad highlights a new **foil package** innovation, claiming advantages: portability, freshness preservation, and lower cost (10 cents) compared to tin containers, though with slightly less tobacco. The tagline references "Finest Burley Tobacco / Mellow-aged till perfect / a dash of Chocolate," suggesting flavor notes appealing to pipe and cigarette smokers. **For modern readers:** This reflects an era when tobacco advertising was mainstream in general-interest magazines, before widespread health warnings. The emphasis on sensory appeal and convenient packaging was typical mid-twentieth-century marketing strategy.