18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Sunday, March 15, 1914: Was so put out this morning. Pa said I wasn’t to go to Sunday School. I was anticipating some of the kind. I stayed at home and took a physic. Boo hoo. Carrie came over to see me.
Advertisement in Grandma’s local newspaper, the Milton Evening Standard (September 15, 1911)
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma-
I agree—boo hoo. Sometimes life isn’t fair.
Your dad should let you go to Sunday School. Your tonsillectomy was 5 days ago, and there’s a guy you like who goes to your church, and you’re looking really slender because you haven’t been eating much. You need to be there!
What’s wrong? Why do you need a physic (laxative)? This is the second time in less than a week that you’ve taken one. Did you take Cascarets? I read that it could cure a lot of different problems.
—
Carrie Stout was a friend of Grandma’s.
I’m with you Sheryl. For heavens sake the boy is waiting! And what is with the laxatives?
I found the advertisement very effective..by the time I read to the end of it I felt I needed a cascaret to get rid of all the poisons in my system.😀
Oh – remember when we were teenagers? Not getting to go somewhere to see a guy you liked was a monumental disappointment! Hope Grandma’s all better soon!
Marketing hasn’t changed. This product is perfect. It will make you feel great.
Ah – so there is a boy. See what happens when you miss your digital fixes for a week or so!
I hope she feels better soon! Tummy trouble is awful!
That ad had me in stitches – so graphic!
Undigested, sour and fermenting food, foul gasses, excess bile, decomposed waste matter, poisons – oh my! It’s a good thing we are mostly oblivious to what all goes on in there!