Life — January 14, 1926 — page 39: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a cigarette advertisement for Herbert Tareyton brand, not political satire. The image shows a horse-drawn carriage carrying several well-dressed men in top hats, depicted in an exaggerated, comedic style typical of early 20th-century advertising illustration. The ad's humor relies on the phrase "Tareytons are a quarter again"—a pun playing on the double meaning of "quarter" (both a coin denomination and a quarter-turn or rotation). The chaotic, careening carriage scene visually reinforces this wordplay, suggesting the cigarettes are worth the extra cost ("a quarter again" = 25% more expensive). The tagline "There's something about them you'll like" was a common advertising appeal emphasizing product quality without specific claims.