Life — December 8, 1904 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis: "Are Christmas Presents a Blessing or a Nuisance?" This page presents two opposing arguments about Christmas gift-giving. **No. 1** (attributed to Barrett Eastman) argues presents are blessings because they cost money, require gratitude, and cultivate politeness—"one of the most necessary factors in the survival of the fittest." **No. 2** (attributed to Charles Hanson Towne) counters that presents are nuisances: unwanted books, napkins, scarves, and diamonds that clutter one's life rather than improve it. The cartoon below shows a mother threatening her son with a "switch" (beating) if he misbehaves, sarcastically referencing Santa's behavioral incentive system. The debate reflects early 20th-century anxieties about commercialism, child discipline, and whether material gift-giving strengthened or weakened character.