Life, 1901-12-02 · page 9 of 44
Life — December 2, 1901 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine, December 2, 1901 The main illustration shows Santa's sleigh being pulled by a figure across a moonlit landscape, titled "Why Some Children Didn't Get Their Presents." This appears to be a visual joke about Santa getting stuck or delayed—the sleigh seems bogged down or struggling, explaining absent Christmas gifts. The page contains three humorous poems/pieces: "A Christmas Catch" (about holiday decorations), "Enigma" (wordplay about Mary at Christmas), and "With Apologies to Riley" (about Christmas touches). The small dialogues "One-Sided," "Functional Disorder," and "Boon" present domestic humor and marital banter typical of early-1900s satirical magazines. The satire targets holiday sentimentality, marital dynamics, and middle-class domesticity rather than political figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NUMBER 996. 01. by Life Pudding Co. A Christmas Catch. (To the Crusty Bachelor.) EDECK the halls with holly And smoking Christmas cheer. Avaunt! Gray Melancholy, To-night of all the year! Without, gruff Boreas mutters— Who recks his crabbed ways? Within, the apple sputters Before the yule-log’s blaze! Forget your money barrel, Good sir—"Tis Christmas day! Pray troll our joyous carol Or frolic roundelay ! Bravo! You win an answer In the deuz-temp's rhythmic glide ; “ Pray ask me out to dance, sir,” Laughs Daphne by your side. Sir Gout may tweak to-morrow? Joy reigns to-night, I trow ; Her very self is smiling Under the mistletoe! Ernest Neat Lyon, WEY SOME CHILDREN DIDN'T GET THEIR PRESENTS. Enigma. E go tochurch on Christmas day, Mary and I, sedately, sweetheart softly gowned in gray ‘ith quiet step and stately ; She will not smile at what I say— Her lashes veil her cheek— What saint devout eer knelt to pray With face more calm and meek? I would not dare to touch her hand, Ofvery smiles I'm chary ; Some things no man may understand, But this is—this is Mary. We go to Martin's Christmas night, Molly and I, for dinner ; Whose smile so quick, whose eyes so bright As those of my sweet sinner? We chat, we laugh, we toast, we quite Lose sight of the hereafter, I—and my darling heart's delight Aglow with fun and laughter. Beneath the cloth I press her hand, My chum, so sweet and jolly; Some things no man may understand, But this is—this is Molly. Theodosta Garrison. DECEMBER 2, 1901, With Apologies to Riley, TPHERE'S a Christmas touch in the air. I feel it, somehow, everywhere. I feel it at home. It makes me blue. I feel it at the office too. My bank account is tinged with care— There's a Christmas touch in the air One-Sided. NOPD: My wife and I have agreed +% not to give each other any Christ- mas presents this year. Topp: Are you really going to stick to it? “She is, but I wouldn't dare to.” JPeNCTIONAL DisonvE! ata ball. A row Boon. “TIS WIFE: I was looking at some- thing entirely new to-day—a portable combined spare bedroom and butler’s pantry! Frat DweLier: Well, I declare! “Yes, what a boon to people of refine- ment, but with only moderate means! comicbooks.com