Life, 1918-10-31 · page 29 of 34
Life — October 31, 1918 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains mostly **advertising and a literary poem**, with minimal political content. The main feature is "How the Birds Came: An Indian Legend"—a romanticized Native American creation myth (credited to "Gitche Manitou," the Ojibwe/Anishinaabe spirit) explaining how autumn leaves transform into birds. It presents Indigenous spirituality in the sentimental, nostalgic style typical of early 20th-century American popular culture. The **dominant content** is a large W.L. Douglas shoe advertisement emphasizing price transparency and quality—the company stamps retail prices on shoes as a "guarantee" against fraud and inflation profiteering. This reflects Progressive Era consumer protection concerns. Smaller ads promote **Fownes gloves** (marketed for military/civilian use, likely WWI-era) and reference "A German Officer's Idea of Heaven" (a satirical wartime piece, now mostly cut off). The page is primarily **commercial**, using the Indian legend poem as editorial padding around advertisements. The satire is minimal here—mostly the gloves ad's wartime marketing angle.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
How the Birds Came . An Indian Legend LL Summer long the forest trees Had raised their leaves for dew and breeze; But colder grew the Autumn sun And, slowly fading, one by one ‘The leaves came drifting down the air, Till soon the boughs would all be bare. What sadness comes with fall of leaf! The great trees bent their heads in grief And writhed their knotted arms to call In prayer on Him who made them all: “0 Gitche Manitou above, Shall all be lost of these we love?” In thunder roll and lightning ame The Mighty Spirit’s answer came: p Masit or Gaving EARLY In “ Behold, my forest, tempest-tossed, erring F pee er @AviNa, Eamtvil How all may change, yet naught be DENT OF THE Peorice 8A Jost!” And,while they heard the Master's words The drifting leaves were changed to Birds! W. I CV) . The leaves of willow fluttered down eee - x As Finches, tawny, green and brown; pe 7 5 The red and russet leaves of oak $350 $4.00 $450°$'F 00 $600 $7.00 B $g.00 Became the Thrush and Robin folk; a 5 . ‘The golden beech-leaves learned to fly You'll never need to ask “‘ What is the price?” when the shoe sales- As Yellow-birds athwart the sky; man is showing you W. L. Douglas shoes because the actual value is om book While all the maple-leaves that turned ined and the retail price fixed at the factory before W.L. Douglas In changing hues that glowed and burned name and the retail price is stamped on the bottom. The stamped Papier me wooded knolls price is W. L. Douglas personal guarantee that the shoes are always 7 . worth the price paid for them. addressed py afaesh > date of So, every year when laughing Spring issolves the snows, on eager wing The Birds of forest, hill and glen Return to know their trees again— To build their nests, to peer and stir Among the leaves of which they were; And from the boughs where once they grew . They sing to Gitche Manitou. Gmeing the price on every pair of shoes as a protection against high prices and unreasonable profits is only one example of-the constant endeavor of W. L. Doug! to protect his customers. W. L. Douglas mame on shoes is his pledge that they are the best in materials, workmanship and style possible to produce at the price. Into every pair go the results of sixty-six years experience in making shoes, dating back to the time when W. L. Douglas was a lad of seven, peg- ging shoes. T* quality of W. L. Douglas product is guaranteed by more than 40 years expe- rience in making fine shoes. The smart styles are the leaders in the fashion centres of America. They are made in a well-equipped factory at Brockton, Mass., by the highest paid, skilled shoemakers, under the direction and supervision of experienced men, all working with an honest determination to make the best shoes for the price that money can buy. The retail prices are the same everywhere. They cost no more in San Francisco than they do in New York. CAUTION—Before you buy be sure W. L. Douglas name and the retail price is stamped on the bottom and the inside top facing. If the stamped price has been mutilated, BEWARE OF FRAUD. 105 W. L. Douglas stores and over 9000 ~ Presta: pou OWNE FS Tee epee nies HL Noregha” Se Row to order shose through the mail, postage free, BROCKTON == The international stan- dard of glove value. The most exacting Mil- itary and Civilian re- quirements completely satisfied—in leather, fur, silk or fabric. At the Principal Shops. American art and SMil has produced FILOSETTE sur tabre glove ever, a A German Officer's Idea of Heaven the morning dropping PENDIN pieces of stars over the edge of Heaven upon London and Paris. At midday a grand review of the forces of Heaven (row after row of cherubs and seraphs marching goose- step). During the afternoon unveiling of statue to the Kaiser. (Many of the German spectators find time during the ceremonies to pick pearls from the Pearly Gates.) Evening concert of Wagnerian music (on harps) the spectators drinking ambrosia from beer mugs. PROMENADE DES TOILETTES LEST THEY FORGET