Life, 1906-01-04 · page 20 of 48
Life — January 4, 1906 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a small boy confronting a grotesque, mask-faced figure labeled "HERE LIES 1905"—personifying the dying year 1905. The boy appears to be the New Year arriving, suggesting the cyclical transition between years and the hope that a new year might improve upon the last. The surrounding text discusses wealth at Christmas, arguing ironically that the very rich should *pity* themselves, not the poor. The author (likely Agnes Repplier, credited at bottom) notes that while wealthy people receive expensive gifts they don't need, poor people at least escape the burden of accumulating useless possessions. The satire critiques both ostentatious gift-giving among the wealthy and the expectation that riches automatically bring happiness. The "Chicago" section contains brief humorous dialogue about an automobile excursion, unrelated to the main themes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
It All Helps. RODERICK MeLEC seems to have Live is able to di endeavor will be to fore MRS. nk Mr. Cameron may count upon the t in this community. We w ty sympathy of every love h him success. Pity the Rich! list has written a ristmas Essay’ on “ Riche: in the AMantic Monthly, He has no fault to find with wealth—which en- at joys some popularity in our day—! his avowed preierence is for a moder- ate income, and he speaks with sym- pathy of “fortunes that are so enor- ‘mous as to make their owners a legitimate object of commiseration to shtful people.” When a mari kind heart, he can always find dy to be sorry for. But it is at Christmas time that wea:th—even vast cumberscme wealth—seems shorn of its terrors ; not only because of the kindness it ma do ; but because the pursuit of the undesi which js so marked a feature of our happy Christmas season, is not, exclusive burden of the rich, Were the contents nor a burnt wood mott: y should we pity a HERE shall we go on bridal trip 7" rable, it should be, the of our shor millionaire: designed for enl would the rest of us hearts as light as our pockets. It is not the silver salvers that lie piled cn the table of Dives which depress poor Laza- rus sitting at the decor, It is the painted crumb-tray which a generous friend has given him to hold his litle fragments of | the feast. Indeed it seems as though the very rich were let off easily in the matter of possessions. No one ever secs a bargain coun- ter for millionaires, no: sale ef fancy articles for stecl-trust_ magnates, nor an especial line of thou- sand-dollar stamp boxes for p -sidents of insurance companies, The terrible accumulation of things, made—like Peter Pindar’s razors—for sale rather than for use, should, if there were justice in this world, be crowded upon the gentiemen whose den of w re alth wear asked to commiserate : which they ravage our arths. A billionaire is no more likely iven a ** Little nor holiday he lendar, of the Poughshare, , than we are. him? Agnes Repplier. Chicago. “Well, where haven't you been ?”” a OW did you like climbing the mountains in that automobile?" “Why, L got nothing but a bird's comicbooks.com | | |