Life, 1911-03-23 · page 2 of 44
Life — March 23, 1911 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It's a Goodyear Welt shoe advertisement from the United States Shoe Machinery Company (Boston, Massachusetts). The illustration depicts children of varying ages sliding down a bannister in sequence, metaphorically representing "sliding down the banister of LIFE." The ad argues that this journey "will be undiluted joy if you are in proper trim"—meaning with proper footwear. The advertisement promotes Goodyear Welt shoes, claiming they offer comfort, durability, and style at one-third the cost of hand-sewn alternatives. The pitch emphasizes that over 500 shoe brands use this manufacturing system, making quality footwear accessible to average consumers. The "satire" here is gentle wordplay rather than political commentary—using the playful image to sell practical products.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Entered at the Pos Sliding Down the Banister of LIFE will be undiluted joy if you are in proper trim. But you can never be sure of that unless your feet are shod in Good- year Welts. The leading manufac- turers in the United States now use the Goodyear Welt System of shoe machinery. Their product is sold under more than 500 special names or trade marks; yet they are all Goodyear Welts. Shoes made by this system are marked by comfort, durability and stvle—they are equal in every essential quality to shoes sewed by hand, and yet cost you but about one-third the price. When you buy shoes—no matter what the special trade name, or the maker—be sure they are made with a GOODYEAR WE, Then you have a shoe in which no tacks or threads can penetrate the insole. The shoe is smooth inside. Your foot comfort is assured. Write today on a post card for the following booklets, which will be sent you without cost: 1, Contains an alphabetical list of over 500 shoes sold under a special 3. “The Secret of the Shoe—An Industry Transformed.” The tree name or trade-mark, made by the Goodyear Welt process. story cf a great American achievement. 2. Describes the Gocdyear peat process in detail, and pictures the 4. "An Industrial City.” Illustrated—descriptive of the great model sixty marvelous machines employ factory of the United Shoe Machinery Company, at Beverly, Massachusetts. United Shoe Machinery Company, Boston, Mass. comicbooks.com