Life, 1919-06-05 · page 5 of 46
Life — June 5, 1919 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two unrelated items: poetry and advertising. **"Last Year's Straw"** is a nostalgic poem about a worn straw hat—its brim torn, crown crushed, bearing marks of use (a baseball, cigarette burn, hole from a cane). The poem reflects on memories associated with the hat's deterioration, expressing bittersweet attachment to an object that has "seen it all." **"Life's Little Ironies"** is a brief philosophical note about "luck" and merit. The dominant content is a **Foster Rubber Company advertisement** for "Cat's Paw Cushion Rubber Heels." The ad features an illustration of a roofer precariously perched on a building ledge, arguing that leather heels are unsafe—only Cat's Paw rubber heels with their "Friction Plug" provide security and prevent slipping on wet pavements. It's a practical safety pitch targeting workers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Last Year's Straw ORTO' nondescript and limp and worn, Shattered brim, and yellow, too; Crown erished in and ribbon torn From t!ic scrimmage it’s been through ; e st day, yet it seems ‘ That ¢ lives in every flaw Memories and pleasant dreams— Hate to part with last year’s straw, Seen its Here th: rim is torn and bent Where » baseball took its toll Here a burning cigarette, Carel lropped, has burned a hole; Rainsto: from a cloudless sky Caug! me on the way downtown, Left its ark of mottled gray Here 1 pon the brim and crown, Here's « crack that disappears Where ihe band obstructs the view, That 1 got one day When my last year’s straw was new; Streaks of dirt around the brim, Lining torn and crown crushed flat— All briv . Memories of last year's hat Been a cood hat in its day; Hate to see it go—and yet Each yeur sees the old replaced By the new hat which I get. Next year this year’s hat will be Torn of brim, its every flaw Full of memories and dreams— That’s the way with last year’s straw. Life’s Little Ironies LE K" is what the other fellow has when he makes a big hit. It is the “reward of merit” when the world recognizes our own worth. “Children and fools speak the truth” —thildren because they don’t know any worse, and fools because they don't know any better, Why is it that we never bear mis- fortune any better for knowing that we brought it on ourselves? If only very good people go to heaven the society there may be very respectable, but won't it be just a little bit du! 1G. M. By Flet» Campbell Springer “THE | ok is quite exceptionally good... it isn authentic work of art."—N. Y. Times, “Flets Campbell Springer has written one of the most 1 thoughtful books of the past few year." —Boston Evening Record. : “This covel is one of distinction, an artistic secompli —Brooklyn Eagle, One innot lay aside the volume."—Richmond Evening !urnal, 4 clever work here has produced a novel f impor ance and one of absorbing interest.”— Weshing:on Star. A bos of distinetion."—N. Y, Sun, $1.50 — HARPER & BROTHERS Ew. 1817 CUSHION HEEL foSTER RUBBER, Vouir Heels Would you feel safe with your leather- ° heeled shoes if you were perched on a girder four hundred feet above the street like this riveter > Of course not. Neither would he, if he didn’t wear Cat's Paw Rubber Heels —because he knows that the Foster Friction Plug with which they are equipped makes him surefooted—safe. And you—even though your work may never lead you into dangerous places — will welcome the comfort, the sense of security that a pair of Cat's Paws will give you. They will not let you slip on wet pave- ments, they are silent, resilient — they have no holes to track mud or dirt. And they are the ultimate choice of many who have tried other kinds first. Be sure you ask for and see that you get Cat’s Paws. CUSHION RUBBER HEELS Black, white or tan. For men, women and children. All dealers, FOSTER RUBBER COMPANY 105 Federal Street, Boston, Mass. Originators and tees of the Foster Friction Pl ohich prevents slsping. ‘ “a