Life, 1891-12-31 · page 29 of 53
Life — December 31, 1891 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Christmas proclamation page** from Life magazine, not a political cartoon. The central text is a formal, tongue-in-cheek "decree" announcing the approach of December 25th and establishing rules for the holiday season. The satire lies in the **mock-official tone**: the document is written as if issuing royal proclamations ("Know all men by these Presents"), treating Christmas observance as a legal obligation requiring obedience to children and charitable giving. **Key satirical points:** - Parents and guardians must become "obsequiously obedient and subservient" to children during this season—inverting normal authority - Charity must extend beyond the home, especially at Christmas - The elaborate decorative border and formal language parody legal documents The surrounding **illustrated border** depicts festive scenes: Santa, children, toys, Christmas festivities—reinforcing the celebratory theme. This is gentle social satire mocking how Christmas transforms normal hierarchies and social expectations, signed "Christmas Inc." as if it's a commercial enterprise.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: Been 7, I “OIA)>) Hnow, all men, by these Sresents, That the Twenty-fifth of December is rapidly approaching, the same with due mirth and rejoicing. festival of Little Children, and all Parents and Guardians and Big Brothers and Sisters are hereby enjoined to be ob- sequiously obedient and subservient to those placed. in authority over them, And, Be it remembered, that, although Charity begins at home, it should by no ncans be confined there, and least of all times in the year, at Christmas time, In witness whereof, we set our hand and seal. and it behooveth all our true and loyal subjects to celebrate {| And, Be it remembered, that this season is especially the | comicbooks.com