Beer, Thrift Stamps, and a 'New Joy'

 It's horrifying how companies over the years have used fear to sell their products.  The ruse still works, of course (think of how we suddenly believe every surface is covered with killer germs, or that water in plastic bottles is somehow superior to pure tap water).  It obviously worked too in 1914, when Schlitz ads warned that exposure to light made your beer taste "skunky".  No mention of how much light it took, either.  When I think of how dad bought beer, it was in a case of 24 and those bottles rarely saw daylight.  The case was in the basement, and a few bottles were brought up at a time and cooled in the fridge for when the uncles showed up to play cards.
OTOH, beer is still sold mostly in brown bottles these days, and it's almost never stored on glass shelves in the window, so it worked.

 Next, a novel ad, and from the government, too.  During the First World War, 'patriotic people' were asked to loan money to the government via War Savings Stamps.  A quarter at a time, when a loaf of bread was between 6 and 10 cents. It sounds simple to us now, but then it must have been a real sacrifice.  Still, everyone knew a man who was over there fighting--a much bigger sacrifice. I assume most everyone bought Thrift Stamps in 1918.

I like gum, and certainly Wrigley's Doublemint was around when I was a kid.  I just hadn't realized it was available in 1914, or that it was a "joy"...☺

Thanksgiving

Been waiting to post this print for two or three years and always forget. What a weird concept, huh? An owl, a kid, and a turkey, in a tree.  I'm pretty sure this was an ad--but for what?

In honor of doing my taxes....

...yes, woohoo, I'm done.  Electronic filing is lovely, a really useful innovation compared to filling out forms by hand and sending them in, praying you figured the refund right.  Whew.  And to think, I have a whole five days grace!

I know, it's a clever segue into writing about labor-saving innovations from 100 years ago:

(I mean the ice box here ☺)

 Too bad this route wasn't pursued back then....

 (Yes, John Hesch went to Hudson Wisconsin, too)

You're welcome!