Life, 1919-09-18 · page 36 of 48
Life — September 18, 1919 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains primarily **advertising** rather than political satire, though it includes some social commentary through poetry. The dominant content is a large **W.L. Douglas shoe advertisement** emphasizing the brand's price-stamping guarantee—a consumer protection measure ensuring shoes cost the same nationwide and preventing retailers from inflating prices. The ad highlights Douglas's status as a quality shoe manufacturer since 1883. To the right is a **poem titled "We Are Being Galloped to the Tomb"** (credited to James B. Morrea) that satirizes modern life's hazards—disease, accidents, poverty—suggesting humans rush toward death despite efforts to survive. It's sardonic social commentary on mortality and misfortune. Below is a brief poem called **"Dea ex Machina"** (literally "goddess from the machine"), personifying Money as an unwelcome guest who opens all doors despite being dirty and ignorant—a critique of money's corrupting social power. At bottom right is a **Rameses Cigarettes advertisement** promising consistent quality. The page reflects early 20th-century consumer culture and anxieties about modern life's dangers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The stamped price is never changed. this protects | ithe wearers against unreasonable profits and has | ns of dollars on their footwear | FOR INDIGEST We Are Being Galloped to the ‘omb (With apologies to James B. Morrea) ETHUSELAH cling to this life Nine centuries and more; The Hindoos tell of greater age Sack in the days of yore. One monarch lived two million yea Before he met his doom; While we are he Galloped to the You can save money by wearing W. L. Douglas shoes, 3 | We win a Marathon with germs the best known shoes in the world. Sold by 106 W.L.Douglas \ Mi And fall beneath a train, own stores and over 9000 shoe dealers. W.L. Douglas name wi Or miss them both and die of and the retail price stamped on the bottom guarantees the r Some disorder of the brain, best shoes in style, comfort and service that can be pro- Deserted by Dame Fortune, duced for the price. We may starve and freeze and de Since 1883 W.L. Douglas name and the retail price has: § Or succumb to hob-nailed liver, been"stamped on the bottom of the shoes before they Just because we lived so high. leave the factory. The stamped price is never changed; 1 this protects the wearers against unreasonable profits met ieaseaal Baraivateavall avidil and has saved them millions of dollars on their footwear. WF 44.00 $4.80 $5.00 . An d cholera and ‘ laine The stamped price is W. L. Douglas personal guarantee - SHOE Scene DABYS that theshoes are always worth the price paid for them. CAUTION Demand their toll in The prices are the same everywhere—they cost no Insist upon having W.L. More horrible and vague more in San Francisco than they do in New York. Douglas shoes with his But when we see a motor-l W. L. Douglas $7.00 and $8.00 shoes are absolutely the name and price best shoe values for the money in this country. They are stamped on the bottom the leaders everywhere. W.L.Douglas $9.00 and $10.00 L, Douglas shoes cannot be ‘ shoes are made throughout of the finest leather the obtained in your vicinity, order Galloped to the tomb. market affords, with a style endorsed by the leaders of fos charger prepald, for W. 1. Quinton id. Write fo America’s fashion centers; they combine quality, style Mlostrated Calalog showing bow — Come tearing through the We realize that we are being and comfortequal toother makes selling at higher prices. “PHEY say W.L.Douglas shoes are made by the highest paid, skilled He. are shoemakers, underthedirection and supervision of expe- aad ‘ rienced men, all working with an honest determination _ resist w. t povoLassHor co. “Oh, all the people who don't to make thebest shoes for the price that money can buy. BROcETOR ass. ter.” See TITS STITT TITS MUST Ieee LISSA SULT USUI. LDL Dea ex Machina F ‘Fnicrity five obody ever : AM not beautiful, Yet am I the most sought after of Cents nges from women. } a = = 5 set RAMESES Magee 1am ignorant, tT Often dirty, stupid and ill-tempered, Yet every door is opened unto me A welcome guest, I come but for a space, and then move on; For what care 1? The world is at my feet— I am a general houseworker, comicbooks.comym