Life, 1904-12-15 · page 5 of 44
Life — December 15, 1904 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a humorous poem titled "The Christmas Strike" that satirizes a labor dispute affecting Christmas supplies. The poem describes a dream where Santa Claus, disguised as "Uncle Sam" (representing the U.S. government), arrives with dire news: Christmas trees have "gone on strike" in the Philippines, Porto Rico, and Guam. The satire appears to reference early 1900s colonial labor issues in these U.S. territories, where workers refused to supply Christmas goods. Santa/Uncle Sam delivers wireless telegraph news that the strike has ended and trees will resume shipment, though "presents rare and Christmas greens" will be scarce. The accompanying small cartoon sketch (bottom right) shows a man struggling to maintain composure—likely depicting the public's anxiety about holiday shortages caused by labor unrest.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
E 5 é i 5 3 a = 617 The Christmas Strike. DREAMED a horrid dream one night, For some one came, I thought, And told me of the awful plight In which the world was caught. No man had ever heard the like, And wailing rent the air— ‘<The Christmas trees have gone on strike, And all refuse to bear!" I dreamed Old Santa came in state, Disguised as Uncle Sam. “Who is the Walking Delegate ?” Tasked. Said he, “1am, The trouble’s in the Philippines, To Porto Rico—Guam. I've called out all the Christmas greens.” His face was stern but calm. And in my dream for days I saw A billion striking trees, And childish faces pale with awe, And children on their knees. Then Santa bounded into view, And laughed a mighty laugh, “Good news! Good news!" he said, “for you, By wireless telegraph. +The Christmas trees on mount and shore Have all gone back to work, And each will gladly bear once more, Not one will balk or shirk, For Porto Rico and for Guam They'll shed their gilts without a qualm, And presents rare and Christmas greens Will deck the happy Philippines. The strike is off 1" T heard him yell, “They've joined the Union, a\lis well!" Earle Hocker Eaton. “ | 2 just heard of an auto that will annihilate time and space.” “Well, the present sort is good enough for me, It annihilates everything in 15. “HE TRIED TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE.”