Judge, 1917-12-01 · page 11 of 36
Judge — December 1, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story satirizes middle-class materialism and family hypocrisy during the Christmas season. Young Mr. Todhunter and his wife are bitterly disappointed that their wealthy relative "Uncle Croesus" (a biblical reference to an famously rich king, used as a type for any wealthy man) sends only a Christmas card instead of money or gifts. Their disappointment turns to joy when they discover the card is actually a $1,000 voucher for automobile repairs—a valuable but practical gift. The humor lies in the family's initial greed and ingratitude, exposed and then reversed. The second piece, "Christmas Cheer at the Front," contrasts this domestic materialism with soldiers' circumstances during what appears to be World War I, where a soldier jokes that at least he won't receive impractical gifts like smoking jackets or poetry books—a darker, sardonic commentary on wartime deprivation.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MOVED “Dear me! (7 pee ODHUNTER looked over his Christmas gifts. They had been neatly arranged on the library table along with those of the rest of the family, but now they lay in a jumbled heap, the wrappings tosset upon the floor. Young Mr. Todhunter wore a long, long “Nothing from Uncle Croesus!” ke exclaimed bitterly “Nothing! Not a blessed thing. The old miser! I knew he was a miserable tightwad, but I never supposed he’d go back on us at Christmas.” Mrs. Todhunter was calmer, but no less keenly disap- pointed. The little Todhunters, indifferent to Uncle Croesus, played with their new toys upon the carpet. Are you sure there’s nothing there, Jim?” asked Mrs. Todhunter, fumbling in the discarded wrappings. “Sure and certain, the old beggar,” growled the chief grouch. Todhunter still fumbled aimlessly, half shamefully. yy, what’s this?” she cried a moment later. ‘Here's an envelope, Jim. And addressed to you.” “And in Uncle Croesus’s hand, too, by Jove! Maybe it’s acheck. Gimme it, quick!” Even the children looked up. Jim Todhunter slit the envelope with more despatch than neatness, and with eager fingers withdrew the contents. Mrs. Todhunter caught a glimpse of something with holly printed on it. Her husband’s face was that of a man for whom a severe shock has been almost a fatal one. “A Christmas card!” he cried, “And from Uncle Croesus! A Christmas card! I didn’t stop to read it. And to think we j Merely a Christmas Card By AL W. And I had such a nice dolly for her!” asked him to dinner, and have got to sit and be decent to him all the rest of the day!” Mrs. Todhunter picked the card from the floor where her enraged partner had flung it. At once amazement, then joy, overspread her countenance. “Why—why, Jim,” she faltered, “‘this—this is no Christ- mas card. At least not an ordinary Christmas card. Oh, the dear, sweet old man! Good old Uncle Croesus! How you have misjudged him!” Todhunter bounded to her side. “What is it?” he asked breathlessly, and then, comprehend- ing, he added: ‘‘Great Caesar! What a whale of a Christmas present!”” Together they read the magic words “Good for One Thousand Dollars’ worth of Automobile Re- pairs or Supplies at Soakem and Stingham’s Garage. A Merry Christmas from your Uncle Croesus.” “Now I can get that new carbureter!” cried young Mr. Todhunter, capering about the room. “Uncle Croesus knew we couldn’t afford to keep a car and this is his delicate way of telling us.” CHRISTMAS CHEER AT THE FRONT “Few can you act so blithe and gay,” asks the comrade, “when this is Christmas eve, and we are away over here at the front?” “Why not?” sa: POLWELL s the philosophical one. ‘‘For once I am sure that no one can give me a smoking jacket, a parlor lamp, a pair of slippers or a padded covered volume of poetry.”