Life, 1903-12-24 · page 9 of 20
Life — December 24, 1903 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three brief humorous sketches satirizing contemporary life: 1. **"Inspiration"** – A poet observes Christmas scenes from his window, confidently declaring he'll write "the greatest Fourth of July poem I've done in years," missing the holiday entirely through distraction. 2. **"Depreciated"** – A child asks Santa Claus if he's real. Santa admits he's not Santa, then reveals papa pays all the bills—a cynical commentary on parental financial burden and lost childhood innocence. 3. **"Too Wearing"** – Characters discuss Dick Dupois appearing "feeble," attributing his decline to being "killed with kindness" after thirty years of receiving preferential treatment—satirizing how excessive favoritism can weaken character. Each sketch mocks human foibles through deadpan dialogue and ironic situations typical of early 20th-century American humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
649 Inspiration. T was Christmas eve. And as the poet looked out of his fourth-story room, and gazed dreamily at the glistening flakes as they fell down silently on the cold earth, he began to feel coming over him that fine thrill of enthusiasm that is the peculiar prerogative of the creative artist. To-morrow would be Christmas! He stood at the window and gazed down at the brilliantly lighted city. Throngs of buyers were hurrying up and down, their arms full of bundles. It was an animating sight. And as if to put him still more in tune with the Yuletide atmosphere, at intervals he heard the sound of distant sleighbells through the crisp air. The Christmas spirit was abroad in the land, and the poet, his sensitive soul keen with tenseness, felt it thrill him. “Aha!” he exclaimed, as he put on a fresh log, and went back to his desk, “I can feel it coming even now,” and as he took his pen in hand, he said confidently : “ This will be the greatest Fourth of July poem I've done in years."’ af B™. Pat, are you sure you love her?’’ “Shure, is it? Be Hivins, Oi can’t slape dramin’ about her!” A coguettE. Depreciated. THE SMALL BOY (in the early morning): So you are Santa Claus, are you? Santa CLaus: The same. What do you think of me? THe SmaLL Boy (contemptuously) : Not much, I happen to know that papa pays all your bills. Too Wearing. a D& DUPOIS looks pretty feeble this year. Not long for this world, is he? Poor old chap, when he goes I'm afraid it’s going to be a case of killed with kindness.”* **Who’s been so cruelly kind to him as all that?” “Dick's been kind to himself by invariable preference these thirty FLORAL, years. No constitution could stand that!" SPRINGING UP PROM A ONSLL SEOOT. comicbooks.com