Life, 1905-03-30 · page 19 of 24
Life — March 30, 1905 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes Sorosis brand shoes manufactured by A.E. Little & Co. in Lynn, Massachusetts. The image shows a fashionable woman in early 20th-century dress with a small dog, illustrating the shoe in practical use during windy March weather. The advertisement's humor is gentle and sales-focused rather than satirical. The key selling points are: Sorosis shoes feature individually made left and right feet (innovative for the era), provide secure footing to prevent slips and falls, and prevent arch flattening—a common foot problem. The copy emphasizes that proper fit requires anatomically-correct shoe construction. This represents typical early 1900s magazine advertising that blended lifestyle imagery with product benefits. The "trick" referenced is wind affecting clothing, not social commentary—just a seasonal sales angle appealing to readers concerned about safety and foot health.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HEN the winds of March are blowing and playing tricks with one’s apparel, is it any wonder that the eye of the passer-by is caught by such an attractive boot as the Sorosis? At this season one must have a sure footing, if falls or accidents are to be avoided; and a firm step is a mark of Sorosis wearers every- where, for perfection of fit gives that sure foothold which an ill-fitting boot renders impossible. Sorosis is the only shoe of which every part is made rights and lefts, and is so modeled as to prevent that only too common fault— a flattening of the arch of the foot Sorosis Shoes are sold in all the principal cities of America and Europe A. E. LITTLE & CO., "3:3" 70 Blake St., Lynn, Mass. (GigsouiGlaa5 | comicbooks.com