The Age of Innocence ~~ Cigarette Advertising in the 1940's

This is one of the infamous Camel cigarette ads from the 1940's that encouraged people to smoke by hiding the dangers of smoking. This ad claims that "not one single case of throat irritation is caused due to smoking Camels. " Throat specialists were sent out to examine the throats of hundreds of people from coast to coast. Included is a Smokers Report from such notables as Cole Porter and less illustrious (but just as important) people as steel worker Cyril Byrn and telephone operator Rita Edwards who liked the "mildness" of Camels. Also in this ad is the "T-Zone" ~~ T for taste and T for throat, encouraging Camel smokers to try it themselves for thirty days (and presumably become hooked for life).

A Melancholic Victorian Scene

This print is from the story Bessy Wells written in 1875 by Mrs. Henry Woods. Mrs. Woods was once considered to be a minor writer of the mid nineteenth century, but is now being rediscovered by academia. Poor Bessy Wells' father lies dying in his room surrounded by a reserved Doctor, a woman fearfully peeking over her prayer book, and an impoverished friend sitting on the bed wearing tattered and soiled clothes. Bessy Wells' father, once a good man, is dying from too much drink. Death was a rite of Victorian literature. Melancholic scenes such as this were so frequent because they portrayed the grueling reality of disease, poverty and general hardship that characterized so much of Victorian society. The public was susceptible to a wide variety of diseases caused by malnutrition, poor working conditions, poor sanitation and lack of public health and medical care. In 1840 the average lifespan was 45 years for the upper class, and 27 years for tradespeople. Labourers and servants lived only 22 years, on average. Women, as a rule, had a shorter life expectancy as they were responsible for the care of the ill, suffered from poor nutrition (society frowned on hearty appetites for women) and because of the difficulties caused by childbirth.

Hey Diddle Diddle from Sassyshades

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