Life — December 2, 1901 — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A GOOD SUBJECT. sits Daddy Taint Santy The Origin of Santa Claus. rT was some time ago. Precisely the exact date need not be 4. given, as clocks were not then invente few centuries niore or less made no difference Father Time reigned supreme. He held sway over the entire universe, and no one disputed his absolute power, no scientists having yet arisen. Sitting upon his throne of pure white, he waved his sceptre, and the earth trembled. One evening—it would have been Christmas eve had there been such a thing at that period—when the snow was falling silently outside the great white palace, bank- ing itself into crystalline depths, there flew over the earth a young spirit, restless, eager and buoyant with the new thought that had come to him. He applied at the door of the and although it was growing late, he was immediately admitted to the presence of the venerable monarch, who never was known to turn any one away. “T have come from the North,” said the spirit—he ly looked more like a healthy young man than anything el and ¢ brought with me a New Idea.” New ideas are scarce,” said King Time. ‘ About everything that’s 4 FLOOD. THE R-R-MOLLING WAVES RISE TIGMER-R-R AND HIOHRR-R-R—