Feb. 8, 1868 Advertisement page - Harper's Weekly

Feb. 8, 1868 Advertisement page - Harper's Weekly

This page is covered in fiscally influenced words. These words include: free, warranted, merchants, bankers, coppers, sells, lower classes, poor, economy, wealth, gold, savings, rich, ounce, stock, and reduced prices, among others. Almost every advertisement emphasizes the ability of the product to either save the consumer money, or make the consumer rich. “White china dinner sets” are a display of wealth, but can still be purchased at reduced prices. Coffee is referred to as gold and is “for sale everywhere”. A certain soap is very cheap, and the ensuing “savings will make you rich”. There is a Horse Doctor who will answer questions in a column for free. Even the stereotyped “Colored Individuals” are able to enhance their social standing by pointing out that a poorer person sifting through ashes will “pick[] ‘em over, an…sell[] to de lower classes”. Every statement and image on this page emphasizes a society that is built on the obtaining and trading of material wealth. Everything is commodified, including written column advice, and discarded ashes. As the last page that viewer’s would see in the magazine, the information would be foregrounded in their minds and deeply influence how they proceeded in their daily lives.

Archives and Special Collections

Calgary: University of Calgary

Friesen, Sammi

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