Life, 1921-07-07 · page 27 of 34
Life — July 7, 1921 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. It uses the prestige of famous American literary figures to market bottled spring water. The page features **portraits of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Nathaniel Hawthorne** (labeled at top), both Bowdoin College alumni (class of 1825). The ad claims they frequented Paradise Spring near campus and benefited from its pure water. The advertisement leverages their literary fame to establish credibility, suggesting that if these celebrated authors valued the water, discriminating consumers should too. The copy makes health claims—curing constipation, digestive issues, and various ailments—typical of early 20th-century patent medicine marketing before FDA regulations. The central illustration shows figures at the spring, romanticizing the water source. This is **advertising strategy**, not satire: associating a commercial product with cultural authority and nostalgia.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Longfellow, Hawthorne and Paradise Water When the famous poet and author attended Bowdoin College, Maine, class of 1825, their favorite haunt was the nearby Paradise Spring. In fact, the lovely little stream formed by the pure, clear water gushing forth was in later years often called Hawthorne Brook. Longfellow and Hawthorne enjoyed and benefited by the health-building Paradise Water; but little did they dream that some day the story of Paradise would spread into every nook and corner of our land. Today, Paradise Water is the choice of discriminating people who want the purest drinking water that they can buy. Government reports show that Paradise Water is unequalled in purity. Unlike or- dinary water, it does not bring germs or insoluble mineral impurities into the human system. Instead, it is highly solvent, (and only pure water can be solvent) thus dis- solving and flushing out the poisonous wastes of the body. Because of this cleansing and purifying effect, Paradise Water has aided consider- ably in the relief of many cases of consti- pation, autointoxication, acidity of stom- ach, feeble digestion, intestinal ailments, kidney and bladder trouble, articular rheu- matism, prostatic troubles and similar ail- For best results, it should be drunk regularly and plentifully, and ex- clusive, if possible, of any other water. ments. Paradise Water is not a medicinal or min- eral water. It is the purest drinking water on record. Clear, sparkling, delightful in taste. The perfect table water. In quart, pint and half-pint bottles, at grocers and drug stores. Natural or Carbonated. FREE: 24-page booklet, “The Story of Paradise Spring,” and names of Paradise dealers in your city. If there are none, we will supply you direct, carrying charges paid to any point East of the elsewhere not carrying excessive ra Case 1 doz. Quarts, Natural $2.50 Case 2 doz. Pints, Natural $3.00 ... Case 3 doz. % Pints, Carbonated (only) ississinp| and North of the Ohio River, and e enclose check with your order. Carbonated $3.00 ..Carbonated 3.50 PARADISE SPRING COMPANY, BRUNSWICK, MAINE E60 PARADISE WATER comicbooks.com