Life, 1919-04-17 · page 36 of 46
Life — April 17, 1919 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising** for Cat's Paw rubber heels, using early 20th-century ergonomic claims (shock absorption reduces fatigue and nervousness). The product appears aimed at office workers and athletes. The **right side contains political satire** in the poem "My League and Me"—a parody of Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee." It references **President Woodrow Wilson's League of Nations**, which Congress opposed and ultimately rejected. The poem mocks Wilson's romantic attachment to his League while the Senate (Republicans and Democrats) actively undermined it. The "beautiful League" drowns in the "sounding sea"—a metaphor for the League's failure. The small cartoon jokes include a humorous squirrel burial and a farmer's quip about needing hay sales to fund gasoline purchases—commentary on agricultural economics amid motorization. The satire targets Wilson's idealism as naive against congressional realpolitik.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
For Outdoor Sporis Don’t waste your energy Let your heels save you. Leather heels transmit the jar of every step through your spine to your brain. The end of the day finds you fagged, weary, nervous. Have a pair of Cat's Paw Rubber Heels put on your shoes—they will absorb the shock of every step you take. They will not let you slip—a little device called the Foster Friction Plug takes care of that. Lear the joy of walking easily, safely, comfort- ably. Indoors and out, for work and play, you'll like Cat's Paws—the heels that never slip—that have no holes to track mud or dirt. But be sure you ask forand see that you get Cat’s Paws cATS PAW CUSHION RUBBER HEELS Black, white ortan. For men, women and children. All dealers. FOSTER RUBBER COMPANY 105 Federal St., Boston, Mass. Originators and patentees of the Foster Fricton Plug which prevents slipping. Hungry Pup: cee! Tuts 1s wee! GO DOWN AND DIG UP THE SONE THe SQUIKREL JUST BURIED.” My League and Me T was many and many a month ago In that kingdom by the se That a man went there, whoo: you ma know, To make the nations free And this man he had no oth Than his League of Nations So he with his House did lo In that kingdom over the s And they loved with a love th. than love That beautiful League—and he And that was the reason, know, The men in his own Countr Not half so happy in Washington halls, Went envying his League—and ke And that was the reason, all know, A terrible wind they caused to blow, That all the night long did never subsid Chilling and killing his joy and his pride His beautiful League—,; h And he said: “Go to: I by far Than many far wiser than mc And neither Repubs in the Senate halls Nor Dems in my own Countree Can ever dissever my soul fron the sea Of my beautiful League and Me “And if all my pet schemes, sy plats and my dreams For my beautiful League and Me Should basely be slain (and nave! should remain) By those men in my own Conntree I will aye bere abide and lie down by side Of my darling, my darling, my joy 9° my pride, My beautiful League—ah, me! In its tomb by the sounding sea Henrietta Kevth “Do you think the motor wil! entire supersede the horse?” “T hope not,” replied Farmer Cor tossel. “There must be some market f# hay. I depend on what I make on bay? buy gasoline,"—Washington Star