Life, 1919-12-04 · page 72 of 80
Life — December 4, 1919 — page 72: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an advertisement for Ruud Automatic Gas Water Heaters, not a political cartoon. The "Christmas Life" header and satirical content function as framing for the ad. The page contrasts an outdated Parisian method—a man carrying hot water upstairs in buckets (labeled "La Rue Brise Miche," a French street reference)—with modern American convenience. The sketch shows the labor-intensive European approach, while the ad promotes the Ruud system's efficiency: instant hot water from any faucet, available in 150,000 American homes. The satire is mild: the implicit joke is that Americans have superior domestic technology compared to supposedly more "cultured" Europeans. This reflects early 20th-century American consumer optimism and technological pride. The advertisement emphasizes modernity, efficiency, and labor-saving as desirable markers of progress—typical messaging for appliance ads of this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘CHRISTMAS LIFE- “La Rue Brise Miche” Hot Water in the Latin Quarter Compare this quaint Parisian method of having a bath brought upstairs to you on a man’s back with the hot-water service enjoyed in 150,000 modern homes having Ruud Hot- Water Service. Ruud owners simply turn any faucet in the house—any time—and get unlimited hot water. U LU AUTOMATIC GAS R WATER HEATER “Hot Water All Over the House’’ Turning on any hot-water faucet turns on the gas in the Ruud. Turning off the water shuts off the gas. You heat only what water you use. There's efficiency for you! Call on your gas company, gas-appliance store, or plumber The Ruud goes in the ” basement or wherever and let them tell you about a Ruud for your home. convenient. ‘Answers ime. wri interesting: i the turn of any hot- In the meantime, write for our interesting illustrated book water faucet rf the déscribing this remarkable device in detail. Address house. RUUD MANUFACTURING COMPANY Makers of Standardized Gas Water Heaters Dept. G Pittsburgh, Pa. Ruud Manufacturing Co. of Canada: 371 Adelaide St. W., Toronto —_e_—_—~—_ “_SXs“____—_ -<;}§¥K+}}e——_——————_—— comicbooks.comiy"