Life, 1920-09-02 · page 49 of 52
Life — September 2, 1920 — page 49: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes literary content with advertising. On the left is "The Optimist," a poem by E.E. Brown about two mice in cream—a moral fable contrasting pessimism with persistence. Below is a book notice for "Mac of Placid," a romantic novel set in the Adirondacks featuring Robert Louis Stevenson as a character. The dominant content is a W.L. Douglas shoe advertisement, a major brand of the era. The ad emphasizes direct factory-to-consumer sales eliminating middleman profits, guaranteed pricing nationwide, and quality craftsmanship. The bottom cartoon, "The Second Generation," shows Tony Spaghetti Jr. demonstrating "modern business methods" to his old-fashioned father—likely satirizing generational business differences and immigrant assimilation, with the Italian surname suggesting contemporary American immigration themes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Optimist | WO mice, so they say, 'e . One grave and one gay, Fell into a pail of rich cream, THE SHOE THAT HOLDS ITSfJ/SHAPE iste aa of course he didn't once dream FOR MEN AND WOMEN Pe ai Sle YOU CAN SAVE MONEY BY WEARING W. L. DOUGLAS SHOES From out of the slippery tin. “Alas!” s he other, Alas!” sighed the other, Eee scwnshose in the world. They are sold in 107 W. L, ssibly brow hold His pessimist brother, «What a terrible fix we are in!” = Fee ice tit cael °Douglas stores, direct - ey a st, J s. $ rail piscouraged, one sank in despair. from the factory to you — Sy *450*5005550 But the other kept on at only one profit, which guarantees to ge a Till his object was won, you the best shoes that can be produced, at * 2nd) syimming slowly but surely, and there 1 the lowest possible cost. W.L. Douglas a When the mained looked in name and the retail price are stamped on Beste saw in her Gn the bottom of all shoes before they leave I This very remarkable sight: iret : pate While one mouse lay dead the” factory, which is your protection ot In his buttermilk bed, _ against unreasonable profits. going | Above him, still lively and bright, W.L.Douglas $9.00 and $10.00 shoes are abso- naut- ‘The optimist sat lutely the best shoe values for the money in this fee On a fat little: pat country. They are made of the best and finest ae His swimming had churned through the leathers that money can buy. They combine night! quality, style, workmanship and wearing quali- be E. E. Brown. ties equal toother makes selling at higher prices. ple” _ They are the leaders in the fashion centers of with America. The stamped price is W.L. Douglas what personal guarantee that the shoes are always er. | worth the price paid for them. The prices are the same everywhere; they cost no more in ac San Francisco than they do in New York. ine ° W. L. Douglas shoes are made by the highest = i Placid paid, skilled shoemakers, under the direction stioa | and supervision of experienced men, all working aie This is a love story set in the great with an honest determination to make the best mall North Woods which the publishers shoes for the price that money can buy. recommend with the utmost confidence. W. L. Douglas shoes are for sale by over 9000 shoe dealers charm that has endeared “Lorna For booklet telling how to order shoes by mall, postage tres. Doone” to millions of readers in all) Ca iTON,—Insist upon having W.LDoug- President aye Pert Ot the world stamped on the sole. Be carctal to seg Ho Grigles : ¢| T. Morris Longstreth, author of that it has not been changed or mutilated. kton, Mass, ) “Mac of Placid,” lives in the Adirom~ ygynmntimsiis nei ieieitiet megan wanes aac tc ED dacks mountain country. Therebreathes | ——— oe — — through the story a passion for the) P pines and the snows, the hills and the| valleys as pure and as stimulating as the winds that come across Lakes 2 Saranac and Placid. \} Robert Louis Stevenson, who, it will (| be remembered, lived for a while at yi Lake Saranac, appears as one of the| characters and in the role of aid to! Mac in his fight against tremendous odds for the delightful Hallie of the hill country. “Mac of Placid” is published by The Century Co., 353 Fourth Ave. New York City, and is sold at all book- Stores for $1.90. ‘ TONY SPAGHETTI, JR., SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATES TO IIS OLD DAD THE | THE SECOND GENERATION Thar SUPERIORITY OF MODERN BUSINESS METHODS comicbooks.com