Life, 1929-08-16 · page 35 of 36
Life — August 16, 1929 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is an advertisement for bottled carbonated beverages disguised as historical satire. The cartoon depicts Napoleon Bonaparte visiting his wife between military campaigns. She persuades him to drink a carbonated beverage, which he credits with inspiring his military victories and providing energy without headache or hangover. The humor relies on anachronism—Napoleon (early 1800s) enjoying modern bottled sodas—and absurdist logic: the wife suggests the beverages' "bubbling energy" fuels his conquests. The satire gently mocks both Napoleon's grandiose self-image ("Napoleon is never weary!") and the exaggerated health claims of carbonated drinks. This appears to be vintage advertising from Life magazine, using historical figures and comic scenarios to promote bottled sodas as energizing, consequence-free beverages. The "sparkling moments" headline plays on both the fizz and the comedic tone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
hE nade" 3 ome Te eS PROT re rT TT * SPARKLING MOMENTS in the HISTORY OF BOTTLED CARBONATED BEVERAGES “My dear,” said Napoleon, “TI just Free! ee dropped in for a bottle between battles” “Nap, darling, do sit right down and take a load off your feet,” cooed the Mrs. “Goodness, you must be all tired out after that horrid battle.” “Napoleon is never weary!” thundered the general. ‘You know that’s my motto. Wie h worlds to conquer there’s no time to dilly-dally and delay.” “But you will take a bottle of carbons ated beverage, dear?” “Ah, now you’re tempting me beyond my strength,” smiled Napoleon, as he reached for the convenient tray. “You I get the inspiration for my best we atadet <i Garhonated TLER ; ttled — wars from these beverages. They’re fairly bubbling with energy, and there’s no headache or hangover. “Well;)my dear, if the maid has my other uniform pressed, I must»be run- ning along. You know I have a dandy war planned for tomorrow. The moving picture boys will be crazy about it... Over the river!” “Skip the gutter, Nap. Write when you can, even if it’s just a picture post- card. oa Quoin: there are always bortled carbonated beverages, nice and cold, in the ice box.” — IN YOUR TOWN comicbooks.com