Life, 1893-12-28 · page 27 of 53
Life — December 28, 1893 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents Christmas-themed content mixing sentiment with gentle satire. The main cartoon shows a ruined house with two windows glowing warmly—illustrating "Young Santa Claus's" idea to economize by giving to each other rather than purchasing gifts. This reflects 1890s economic concerns, likely referencing financial hardship or recession. Below are two poems: one addressing "Time" and "Love" during Christmas in romantic, philosophical language; the second, "The Christmas Girl," is a sentimental verse about a young woman's beauty enhanced by winter and Christmas imagery, culminating in a flirtatious reference to mistletoe. The overall message appears to be satirical commentary on commercialized Christmas spending, while simultaneously indulging in the era's characteristic sentimentality about love, domesticity, and seasonal romance. The contrast between economic hardship (the ruined house) and romantic idealism is the central tension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHRISTMAS NUMBER, DECEMBER, 1893. THE BRILLIANT IDEA OF YOUNG SANTA CLAUS. ECONOMIZE AND GIVE EACH TO THE OTHER! HRISTMAS again! And Time keeps on ap: But why repine, brethren? Have we not Love still with us? And, with Love beneath the roof- tree, what care we how Time hurr for snows without our doors? The little chap warms all hearts, and what better season for Love than Christmas, with its mistletoe and holly, its good cheer and its charity for all, Come, Love, and let us make captive of Time! THE CHRISTMAS GIRL. HE snow has drifted to her brow, The holly bud has dyed her cheek, Her eyes, like stars on Christmas eve, Shine out with glances, coyly, meek. There's Christmas radiance everywhere In wreaths of green and berries red ; But, best of all, T gladly note There's mistletoe above her head. Lurana W. Sheldon, comicbooks.com