In 1889, cigarette makers inserted collectible cards into their packages—not to advertise smoking, but to stiffen the boxes. Millions of Americans, especially children, traded these colorful lithographs like baseball cards today. This one imagined a girl dressed as a kitchen maid, transforming everyday housework into theatrical fantasy.
You slip the card from the cigarette pack and catch your breath. Rose Beaudet gazes out at you in her black servant's dress and white apron, a broom in one hand. For a moment, the ordinary kitchen—with its soot and steam and endless scrubbing—becomes a stage, and anyone can play a role.
Reflect
What ordinary parts of your day might you imagine as a costume or a character to play?