Life, 1902-12-25 · page 40 of 77
Life — December 25, 1902 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains whimsical holiday satire and social commentary typical of early 20th-century *Life* magazine. The top poem by Carolyn Wells parodies Christmas traditions in an absurdist "Nonsense Land"—decorating with rubber bands, trimming trees with shears, stockings hung by hangman, a Yule Log of camel. The accompanying illustration shows a genteel domestic scene. Below, "Two Prototypes" presents a dialogue between a Cat and Mistletoe Ball discussing a young man. The satire targets idle, decorative masculinity: the man is a "tame cat"—ornamental, obedient, content by the fireside. The speakers mock women who love such parasitic men, calling them "useless women—parasites" themselves who contribute nothing to society but accept comfort. The bottom illustration depicts this conversation, while the final quip suggests Santa's generosity is wasted on misbehaving boys—a mild jab at childhood morality tales.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PRACT LIFE ACesrts+re Christmas in Nonsense Land. (By Caronys Wests.) HEN Christmas comes in Nonsense Land, ‘They usher it in with a rubber band ; Their Yule Log is made of cannel ¢ And the Boar's Head's brought in the Wassail Bowl. as trees with shears, on their They trim their Chris And they all ager mac gman their stockings are hung. ines their carols are sung, y one a gift will not sift, The King makes e' cular sieve hofth red fish that : pjects presente to him not swim, As soon as it’s light enough to see Every one climbs his Christmas tree ; And there he sta: Oh, they're qu goes down ;— » Nonsense Town, a 3 “80 YOU WAVE SET YOUR HEART ON MARRYING MH. BONDS?" “NOG U'VE SPT MY MEAD ON IT. IT TAKES BRAINS TO GET MONEY, Dean.” PATHER TIM'S CHRISTMAS PUDDING, Two Prototypes. (A lururiously furnished room, Aman anda a large, sleek cat on the hearth-rug and a mistle- Loe ball suspended from the chandelier.) ‘THe CAT: A dear boy, is he not (raring one par in the direction of the man)? Tue MistLetor Bat: Too much so! He has evidently positized himself, as the college professors say, to his clothes. What guaran- tee docs he show of his right to exist? ‘He is my prototype. By profession he is a tame cat. It is a comparatively easy occupa- tion to master. It simply requires an ability to appear well and talk amus- ingly—that is, as nearly as pos- sible like the men in the Dolly, Molly and Polly dialogues. To put it in a nutshell, you must keep your fur smooth and shining and not grow! over your meat, Of course, he’s got to be obedient to my lady's whims and fetch and carry for her no end—but what's that, after all?” « But does he not wish to be out in the world of action where men are daring, battling, achieving?” “What! Lead the strenuons life when he has a warm seat by the fire and women to pet him?” “Then do women love tame-cat men??? “Not real women, no; but idle, useless women —parasites 1 yourself. Women who add noth- ing to the sum of the world’s hap- piness, but are willing to take all.” “Ma foi! It's a snap to be a tame cat and a bunch of mistle- toe, is it not?" Mrs, Wilson Wonlrow, J F it is trne Santa Claus brings presents only to good little boys, he is easily fooled. comicbooks.com