Judge, 1913-12-20 · page 7 of 24
Judge — December 20, 1913 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story critiques a particular type of wealthy miser—a successful coal dealer named Perkins who refuses Christmas celebration on principle, calling it "babyish" and "nonsense," despite having ample means. The satire targets his hypocrisy: Perkins claims he can't afford Christmas festivities, yet openly admits he's prosperous and always pays children's bills immediately. His real objection is ideological—a dismissal of sentimental tradition. However, his wife circumvents his edict by purchasing the desired gifts (skates, locket, tools) anyway, which Perkins then gives the children outside the Christmas context. The joke's sting lies in the children's response: receiving the exact gifts they wanted, they still feel robbed of Christmas itself. The gifts' meaning depends on *when* and *how* they're given, not merely their material value. Perkins's rationalist materialism—"Won't they like 'em just as well to-day?"—fails to recognize that Christmas's "spirit" resides in tradition and anticipation, not purchase price. The cartoon illustrates this disconnect between commerce and sentiment, mocking wealthy philistines who mistake financial provision for parental understanding.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
i i) “THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ” AS SEEN FROM BEHIND THE COUNTER When the Perkins Family Did Not Celebrate Christmas By STELLA MILLER NEAL <«(CHRISTMAS!”” thundered Mr. Perkins at his wife, when she asked for money to buy a Christmas tree. ‘‘I’m sick and tired hearing about Christmas! It’s all nonsense, anyway !"” “But the children, Charles! Doris and Tom have always had some kind of Christmas doings. They won’t know how to get along with none.’’ “Time they'd learn, year we'd have no more such foolishness. “What shall I tell the children?”’ . “Don’t tell ’em anything. Send ’em to me. ’Tain’t as if they was needing anything. You know you can go downtown and get anything the children need or you want ’em to have, have it charged and send the bills to me. I always pay ’em, don’t 1?"” “Yes, pa, you’re a real good provider, and that’s just why I can’t see why you want to deprive them of this innocent pleas- ure. If we couldn't afford it, there might be some reason in what you say.’” “Affordit! Humph! GuessIcan! It’s just that it’s such a babyish thing all around, and I say it’s to stop!”” “But Tom wants some new skates for Christmas, and Doris has set her heart on having a locket. I heard them talking about what they hoped Santa Claus would bring them.’” snapped Mr. Perkins. ‘I said last I meant it.”” x “Santa Claus! If them kids want those things or any other, you go and get ’em, right off, to-day !’’ roared Mr. Perkins. “But they want them for Christmas, and’’—— “Jiminy! Won't they like ’em just as well to-day? That’s just some foolish idea you've taught ’em. They’re too sensible kids for that. You'll see.’” Mr. Perkins was a prosperous coal dealer, and, as he said, was a good provider, but had very little patience with ideas that he did not share. Mrs. Perkins was as quiet as her hus- band was blustery, and tactfully managed to keep the household machinery running smoothly and saw to it that twelve-year-old Doris and ten-year-old Tom enjoyed the same pleasure their friends and playmates enjoyed. Of course Christmas was their favorite holiday, but now that Perkins had issued his ‘‘No Christmas”’ order, his wife knew it was useless to attempt any- thing in the way of festivity. However, she made good use of that request of her husband's to get what she wanted the chil- dren to have. There was the locket for Doris, a wonderful fan, a muff, and for Tom the skates, a new bicycle lamp and a much coveted chest of tools. That night Mr. Perkins gave the children the things their mother had bought. “But, pa, I thought I was to have those things for Christmas,”’ said Tom. “So did I. What will we do for Christmas?” asked Doris, in dismay. comicbooks.com