Life, 1926-03-25 · page 4 of 40
Life — March 25, 1926 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising for Palmolive Shaving Cream**, not political satire. The large advertisement features a man's face with a percentage scale (100% to 80%), claiming the product wins "80 out of every 100 men." The ad emphasizes five product features: superior lathering, rapid beard softening, creamy fullness, hair-lifting properties, and oil-based conditioning effects. The right side contains two short stories: "Irresistible" (about a book agent's sales pitch) and "Fairy Story" (about a building project cost overrun). While *Life* magazine was known for satirical content, **this particular page is dominated by commercial advertising rather than political or social commentary**. The fictional stories are lighthearted anecdotes without apparent satirical intent.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
We win 80 out of every 100 men to this unique creation Say the Word And we'll send you a 10-day tube of this unique shaving cream to try (NOTE COUPON GENTLEMEN — The way we win new customers to Palmolive Shaving Cream is by giv ing men a 10-day tube to try. In less than five years we've gain- ed top place in that w. y 95% of the men ads are wedded to other kinds of shaving soap. Yet we win 8o out of every 100 to this unique creation It's different from any other ing cream known. 60 years of soap study stand behind it. We have tried out 130 different formulas in perfecting it. It embodies the four great essen- tials 1000 men told us they wanted in a shaving cream, plus a fifth that we ourselves found and added answering our ave THE PALMOLIVE COMPANY (Del. BELOW) 5S Important features You'll find it superior in at least five major ways 1—Multiplies itself in lather 250 times. Softens the beard in one minute. Maintains its creamy fullness for 10 minutes on the face. 4-Strong bubbles hold the hairs erect for cutting 5—Fine after effects due to palm and olive oil content. ‘ind Out What we tell you is based on what We as expert soap makers know. One of our toilet soaps, Palmoli the leading toilet soap of the world. Now in courtesy to us, will you accept a test of our shaving cream; give us the opportunity to prove the claims millions make for it? Corp.), Chicago, It Irresistible HEN he didn’t offer to give me two de s ime if I felt he had office he entered my in payment of my wasted it ‘Lam a book agent,” he announced, quietly and without hesitat “It is quite likely that you won't be the least bit interested in what I am trying to sell you.” “Sit down,” I invited. just two minutes.” “I am selling the * of Our Vice-Presidents “II give you ‘arewell Addresses in six bound m myself, but most people find them deadly bore- However... I was growing interested. hey help to fill up the book-case. you'll rarely read them, you'll h the house for them, volumes, I haven't read th some, “y, Since never have to se or accuse your wife of mislaying them And besides on, go on,” I urged. “They're fine to threaten the children while cleaning Imagine six pages of compul- Addresses of Tell make an sory reading in ‘Farewell Vice- Presidents !” sel out of any child.” “But what do I get, them?" “Nothing. no volumes on Our free, if I order No set of short stories— ‘How to Be a S! by people you never 1 I any ki tion offers of the terms? “Cash—forty di nine dollars and ninety-five cen You see. time payments of any ki feel—but J you care to look over my two mi es are up. an order blank Dazed, I nodded. He produced the blank. It was not a closely printed, legal-looking document. It read simply “L hereby order a set of ‘Farewell Ad- dresses of Our Vice-Presidents’ for $40." “T don't carry a fountain pen,” he said, “but you probably h care to order the books. Then, as I hesitated, he added. raising his voice “And you will note that the space in hich we ask you to attach your signa- re HAS NO DOTTED LINE You c name without the guidance of But he got no further. My s was already on the blank are not a moron. 5, € cl | F Fairy Story NCE there was a Public Building saat estimated to cost $2,567,932.08. In | time it was completed and it cost 1 19, “SHAVES FREE | $2,567,932.08, and not a cent less. ( a.can_of Palmoitve After Shaving Tale ed addrves and a Caen, “MAY happy returns,” said the Ass eins savage, as he handed the cannibal king a boomerang for a birthday present. comicbooksicom )