Life, 1909-12-02 · page 39 of 80
Life — December 2, 1909 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains a Christmas-themed satirical piece. The main illustration depicts a formal group of men in suits alongside a woman and child, captioned "On Earth Peace, Good Will Toward Men"—a biblical reference ironically juxtaposed against what appears to be a satirical narrative about "General Smith" conducting a mock military "battle" using automobiles and motorcycles. The humor relies on early-20th-century anxieties about new motor vehicles and modern warfare technology. The detailed description of deploying "four-cylinder runabout divisions" and waiting for "aeroplanes" parodies military strategy applied absurdly to civilian automobiles. The accompanying poem "A Christmas Triolet" jokes about regifting—giving someone else's unwanted present onward to another person—suggesting this was already a recognizable social practice worthy of satire. The page also includes an "Acrostic" Christmas list of period-appropriate gifts (candy canes, sleds, ice skates), reflecting holiday expectations of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Christmas Triolet HE Christmas gift you gave to May Was just the thin for Cousin Jenny; Alas! Alack! and well-a-day! The Christmas gift you gave to May And who, in sooth, shall safely say That such is not the fate of many?” The Christmas gift you gave to May Was just the thing for Co Jenny The Battle (Description) AL. SMITH led bis baseball ficld—the only left in the State—and told G wing open space into 1 28 BONTETACY “ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN them to rest there on their motor cycles until their pictures had been taken. He then deployed the four-cylinder runabout division among the outbuildings, waiting for bis acroplanes to come up. d by wireless at ttle began at ten-five. Every. Killed on both sides but Gen- Smith. The silence was intense were pictures by Rock contributions — by Surgery by feller Instituti zine Lillian As the all reeruited. from lums nothing but good can now re- army was sult dead wood Announcement and other plays to appear will be made later There are fewer of us left, but no on privileges by National Park ation. of musical comedies An Acrostic Candy canes. Hobby horses Red ribbons Ingenious inventions Slick sleds. Tree trimmings. Merry Autograph albums Sharp skates comicbooks.com