Life, 1920-03-18 · page 44 of 54
Life — March 18, 1920 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. It contains two major commercial advertisements: 1. **W.L. Douglas Shoes** (center/left): A large ad featuring the shoe manufacturer emphasizing direct-to-consumer sales, eliminating middlemen profits, and price transparency. The circular vignette shows Douglas as a successful businessman; the narrative emphasizes his 67 years of shoemaking experience and ethical pricing practices—a notable selling point in an era when retail markup and fraud were common consumer concerns. 2. **"Freezone" Corn Remover** (right): A medical product advertisement claiming painless corn removal using a liquid applicator. 3. **"The Income-Taxpayer's Song of Spring"** (upper right): A poem expressing taxpayer frustration about spring obligations—likely referencing tax season, though specific historical context is unclear. The page reflects early-20th-century consumer culture emphasizing value, transparency, and direct manufacturing relationships as selling points—and the prevalence of home remedies for common ailments.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
[WOHEN W. L. Douglas shoes are sold throagh 107 of our own stores direct to the wearer at one profit. All middlemen’s and manu facturing profits are eliminated. W. L. Douglas $9.00 and $10.00 shoes are absolutely the best shoe values for the money in this country. W. L. Douglas name and the retail price stamped on the bottom guarantees the best shoes in style, comfort and service that can be produced for the price. 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. W.L. Douglas name 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-seven years ex- nce in making shoes, dating back to he time when W. L. Douglas was a lad of seven, pegging shoes Tre quality of W. L. Douglas product is guar- anteed by more than 40 years experience in making fine shoes. The smart styles are the leaders in the fashion centersof America. They are made in a well-equipped factory at Brock- ton, Mass., by the highest paid, skilled shoe- makers, 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. W. L. Douglas shoes are for sale by over 9000 shoe dealers besides our own store: If your lo ealer cannot supply rmake. Order direct from the facto how to order shoes by mail, post CAUTION. Insist upon having W. L. Douglas President WL DOvOLAS shoes. ‘The name ‘and price is plainly stamped on Hele g, c : the sole. If_it has been changed or mutilated, ole BROCKTON ‘MASS. BEWARE OF FRAUD PAY MENTS y buys outright any 5 ch The Income-Taxpayer’s Song of Spring s filled with Lift off Corns with Fingers Doesn’t hurt a bit and ‘‘Freezone’’ costs only a few cents You can lift off any hard corn, soft corn, or corn between t toes, and the hard skin calluses from bottom of feet “Freezone” upon the corn or it stops hurting, then shortly you litt that t some corn or callus right off, root and all, without one bit of pain or soreness. Truly! No humbug! Tiny bottle of **Freezone” costs few cents at any drug store comicbooks.com