Life, 1921-12-01 · page 51 of 58
Life — December 1, 1921 — page 51: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Cartoon/Story:** The left column continues a satirical narrative mocking frugality during the post-WWI era. Characters debate whether to replace Santa Claus with Benjamin Franklin as a symbol—Franklin supposedly embodying American thriftiness better than the expensive holiday tradition. The satire ridicules extreme economy: one character argues Santa costs America more than the Monroe Doctrine. A comedic poem follows about "Mr. Jones" who mortgages a Christmas tree but refuses to buy decorations, illustrating the absurdity of misplaced penny-pinching. **The Advertisement:** The right side is a Pepsodent toothpaste advertisement claiming to combat "film" (plaque) on teeth. It promises scientific benefits and appeals to dental authority, offering a free 10-day sample. This represents early 20th-century marketing's use of pseudo-scientific language and professional endorsement to sell consumer products. **Context:** The satire reflects 1920s anxiety about postwar economics and changing values, while the ad exemplifies the era's emerging consumer culture and advertising techniques.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Feel Any Fresher? (Continued from page 32) this Hon. Franklin! Ah. how they could dow? cem pretty jolly,” I peruse. aybe not jolly on Christmas,” de- this Matsu, “but everybody would not rang kiss his memory on Jan 1 when Xmas bills must be payed.” you are talking garbage,” | fo exchange Sandy Claus nj. Franklin would be similar to ig Hon, Jno. D. Rockefeller editor of tie New Republic. Have you no reverence for mythology?” “| believe in cheap mythology,” for mak he divludge. “But this Sandy Claus have cost America more money than the Monroe Doctrine. Spendthriftlessness are a sin. Nothing is sacred any more except Economy, When ladies have removed so much clothing to save money is it not an enlarged crime to wait until Christmas to shoot off our ? H wealih? Yes is! Therefore Sandy Claus must be discharged for some cheaper ‘saint.” “\Vhere would poetry go when Hon. *ranklin came down mantel-piece ?” T ask peevly. yetry could be wrote about that,” snignify Matsu. “Therefore I show you. So he acted very Barrymore while reciting following misterpiece: *’Twas the night before Xmas and all Through the residence not a Creature was awake, except the gas- meter, Then Mr. Jones, who payed the bills, Got up. Something broke his heart, so he went ownstairs To sce about it. For he had got a Xmas tree on a mort- age, but he had refused to buy ther nicks or nacks to lynch on its ragral branches. And what would his Children say to- ‘orra morning ? Therefore he snux downstairs in his Could Rev. President Harding He invented stingyness and printed books to show save money Hon. Benj. Franklin should come chimney on Christmas it would If you are brushing your teeth in a wrong way, learn what this new way means. Authorities now advise it. Lead- ing dentists everywhere are urging its daily use. Millions of people em- ploy it. Make this ten-day test and let the results show you what really clean teeth mean. That dingy film Film is what clouds the teeth’s beauty. It causes most tooth trou- bles. Countless teeth discolor and decay because the old ways of brush- ing do not effectively fight film. Film is that viscous coat you feel. It clings to teeth, enters crevices and stays. That is what discolors—not the teeth. Film is the basis of tartar. It holds food substance which ferments and forms acid. It holds the acid in con- tact with the teeth to cause decay. Germs breed by millions in it. They, with tartar, are the chief cause of pyorrhea. Ways to end it Dental science has in late years found two ways to fight film. It has proved them by careful tests. Now they are embodied in a new-day Oh Jing! ok! -bells, happy-time sound, every- thing very Yule! For there by Tree stand short man ith’ Revolutionary face, hanging pretty cards to tree. Tt wa Hon. Mr. Jones economized with breath so not disturb this Xmas Spirit. ‘That will retain them for a year!’ Chockle Hon. Franklin, dropping cards (Continued on page 53) tooth-paste — called Pepsodent — for daily application. Pepsadént The New-Day Dentifrice A scientific film combatant, whose every application bri: five desired effects. Approved by highest authori- ties, and now advised by leading den- tists everywhere. All gists sup- ply the large tubes. Be More Careful of your teeth— combat the film Dentists here and abroad now ad- vise it. It is now bringing a new den- tal era to some 40 races of people. Other new effects Pepsodent brings three other ef- fects, natural and very important. It multiplies the salivary low—Na- ture’s great tooth-protecting agent. It multiplies the starch digestant in the saliva, to digest starch deposits. They may otherwise cling and form acids. It multiplies the alkalinity of the saliva, to neutralize the acids which cause tooth decay. Thus every use does five things which dental authorities now regard as essential. You'll quickly see A 10-Day tube of Pepsodent is sent to all who ask. That shows the de- lightful effects. In a week you will realize that this method means much to you and yours. Send the coupon for it. Note how clean the teeth feel after using. Mark the absence of the viscous film. See how teeth whiten as the film-coats disappear. Watch all the effects, then read the reasons in our book. That test may lead to life-long benefits. Cut out the coupon now. 10-Day Tube Free : THE PEPSODENT COMPANY, Dept. 487, 1104 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill. Mail 10-Day Tube of Pepsodent to comicbooks.com