Life, 1921-10-20 · page 2 of 34
Life — October 20, 1921 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement, not a political cartoon**. It's a 1921 Life magazine ad for Phoenix brand stockings. The ornate decorative border frames a pitch emphasizing that Phoenix hosiery maintains its "shapefulness and elegance to the end of the journey"—a metaphor for durability through wear. The ad addresses consumers directly ("How far do your stockings carry you?"), positioning the product as long-lasting and elegant despite inevitable wear. The phrase "even on its last leg" plays on the double meaning of "leg" (the garment part and idiomatic expression). This was typical early 20th-century advertising copy, appealing to both practicality (durability at low cost) and aesthetics (beauty and elegance). No satire or political commentary is present—this is straightforward commercial marketing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lire: Published Weekly by Life Publishing Entered as Second Class Matter June 8, 1883 at the Post Office at New York, Crartes Dana Gipson, Pres! Company at 598 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. N. ¥., under the act’of March 3d, 1879, Groton B. RiCHANDsoN, Vice-Prottteny Annual Subscription, Five Dollars. Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office Department, Canada. Le Roy MILLER, Treas. Gron 2033. October 20, 1921. Copyright in England and the British Possessions, B. F. Eresk Vol, 78, No. oe PA TASST, Bex, . PRovANDIE, Western Manager ZB Even on its last leg a stocking may still be a thing of beauty. Phoenix stands first in world sales because it keeps its shape- liness and elegance to the end of the journey. Whether it is made of silk, or of silk-and-wool mixture, it has that intrinsic beauty which carries men, women, and children over long miles—at low cost. How far do your stockings carry you? The shop you like best is apt to have a fascinating Phoenix as- sortment from which to select. PHOENIX HOSIERY comicbooks.com