Life, 1919-08-28 · page 10 of 40
Life — August 28, 1919 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical poem by Oliver Herford mocks a novelty food product marketed as an "Edible Drink" — an indigestible jelly or gelatin confection designed to be eaten rather than consumed as a liquid. The satire targets both the absurd product and false advertising claims. The poem describes the item's appearance (dark blue with yellowish-pink hue), heating method, and promised health benefits. The punchline: despite claims it aids digestion and prevents obesity, the drink actually causes severe hangovers and headaches, leaving consumers worse off than before. The accompanying illustrations show wealthy men in formal dress examining and discussing the product with skepticism. The satire critiques early-20th-century consumer culture and misleading patent medicine/food marketing practices that promised miraculous health benefits with no actual efficacy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE® The Edible Jag (wipe HERE was once an ingenious gink ible Drink It was easy to chew, And its taste was dark blue, With a flavor of yellowish pink. Who invented an It exhaled a pale purple bouquet Most inviting, and on a hot day It was pleasant to take, The hunger to slake, Or the gnawing of thirst to allay, If taken at noontime in bed, Or gargled (with oatmeal or bread), Or inhaled with green tea, It would cure a hoarse knee Or a varicose vein in the head ED(BLE DRINK. It was heated with rotary fans, And cooled in electro-steam cans, Then, strained of its juice, It was packed for home use In flat non-refillable pans When served, t vertisement said, It bubbled and fizzed like brown bread, And fifty per cent To obesity went, And fifty per cent. to the head But the best of us may be misled The drink proved a failure. Of making you gay, It left you next day + With a fierce tummy-ache in the head Oliver Herford. Instead The Reformer’s Philosophy HE highest form of happiness is to make others mis- crable There are no such things as “innocent” p! Majorities hts that need be respected. Anyone who disagrees with me must be either wicked or insane There is one side to every question. I was born good; others must have goodness thrust upon them. Humor is the chief weapon of the devil. To abstain is the whole duty of man. The “lobby” is the most important part of the House. Exaggeration is the highest form of propaganda Naturally RIGGS: I see President Wilson takes the full respon- sibility for Shantung Griccs: thing else? As ruler of the universe, how can he do any- comicbooks.comm