Life, 1919-03-06 · page 39 of 42
Life — March 6, 1919 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily advertising**, not political satire. The dominant content is a W.L. Douglas shoe advertisement (circa 1910s-1920s based on style). The ad's pitch targets middle-class consumers suspicious of price-gouging: Douglas stamps his guaranteed retail price directly on shoes as proof against inflated markups. The accompanying illustration shows a bank teller (suggesting trustworthiness) and shoppers examining shoes—establishing credibility through transparency. The ad emphasizes that his $7-8 shoes equal competitors' $10-12 shoes. The **left column** contains poetry fragments labeled "Vale" and "Ouija Reflections"—typical Life magazine literary filler of the era. Below is a **Herbert Tareyton cigarettes ad** featuring a mustachioed gentleman. The **bottom cartoon** shows knitting-related domestic humor with the caption "Knit, and the world knits with you; / Darn, and you darn alone"—likely WWI-era (referencing women's wartime knitting efforts), with a play on Emerson's "Laugh, and the world laughs with you." No significant political figures or satire appear here.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
he for the Complesion tment 25. and B, Talc 25 ERSON, my Demi-John, © ever part! on he empty, thrills my heart— hearil willow ay rattan?) vse your. spirits, © dry and out. up with vinegar, Scottish stout n the world rself abused— t I loved you, Ouija Reflections upon reading ompiler, punch with care; th wisdom rich and rare neh for a poet fair, neh for a bi une of the triple-starred! treaming wre: ath amd the that can never fall + them grovel and sees wl wwe mever a star at all i RECEIVING rr earn es aati $4.00 $4.50 $5.00 $6.29 $700 & $8.00 IF you have been paying $10.00 to $12.00 for fine shoes, a trial will convince you that for style, comfort and service Ww. L Douglas $7.00 and $8.00 shoes are equally as good and will give excellent satisfaction. The actual value is determined and the retail price fixed at the factory before W. L. Douglas name and the retail priceis stamped on the bottom. Thestamped | ro] — price is W. L. Douglas personal guarantee that the shoes are always worth the price paid for them. The retail prices are $333.50%4 thesame everywhere. Theycost no more in San Francisco than they do in New York. Stamping 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. Douglas to protect his customers. The quality of W. L. Douglas product is guaranteed by more than 40 years experience 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 deter- mination to make the best shoes for the price that money can buy. 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, Wee, OF FRAUD. For sale by 106 W.1..Donglas stores and over 9000 W. L. Donglas dealers, President W, L. Douglas or can be ordered direct from factory by mail, Parcel Post charges wee Jide Shoe Co., 147 Spark St. paid. Write for Illustrated Catalog showing how to order by mail. Brockton, Mass. Knit, and the world knits with you; Darn, and you darn alone. comicbooks.com