Life, 1905-04-13 · page 2 of 22
Life — April 13, 1905 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an advertisement for Sorosis Shoes, not political satire. The illustration depicts young children admiring themselves in a mirror while playing outdoors, with a small dog nearby. The ad's argument is that proper footwear during childhood is crucial for developing healthy feet in adulthood. It claims flat feet, bunions, and irregular foot development result from inadequate shoes during youth. The quoted epigraph from Pope ("Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclinded") reinforces this message—early intervention matters. The ad emphasizes that Sorosis applies "scientific lines" developed for adult shoes to children's footwear. This reflects early 20th-century Progressive Era confidence in scientific solutions to everyday problems. The layout and artistic style are typical of period magazine advertising rather than editorial cartooning.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
COPYRIGHT FOR GREAT GRITAIN BY JAMES HENDERSON UNDER THE ACT OF 1001 “Just as the twig is bent the tree’s inclined.’’ —Pope SOROS], t | . SHOES For the Baby. You cannot begin too young with a child’s feet—the younger the better. The little delicate baby’s foot, with its soft, tender joints and bones, which are, as yet, merely carti- | lage, must be very carefully shod, if you would have the graceful, well-formed foot of youth and maturity. Flat feet, short feet, fat, irregular, bunchy feet are nearly always the | | result of improper foot-gear worn during childhood. | | Our beautiful Sorosis Shoes for the Baby are built upon the same scientific lines as the Sorosis for grown-ups. They have all the remarkable qualities which have made the Sorosis name world famous. They come in all colors. Price almost nominal. Ask at any Sorosis Store. Baby will be delighted with them. Sorosis Stores and Departments : Cincinnati West Fourth St. Cleveland : 177 Euclid Ave. | comb-Endicott Co. Milwaukee : 93 Wisconsin St. sco: 216 Post St., & go Third St. St. Paul: Field, Schlick & Co. Ww. at bas) 5 Buffalo: H. Meldrum Co. 16th St. Boston: 20 Temple Place & 176 Boylston St. Philadelphia : 1314 Chestnut St Hartford : 945 Main St. Chicago: 34 Washington S Pittsburg : Cor. Penn Ave.€ sth St.& zr éthSt, Providence: ‘The Shepard Company. t. Louis kK Scruggs, Vand London Shops: Regent House, Regent Street,’ oort & Barney D. G. Co. 19 Westbourne Grove, W.; Minneapolis: yoo Nicollet Ave. | 83 Brompton Road, 5. W. And all other large cities in Europe and America, comicbook: w