Life, 1909-12-02 · page 63 of 80
Life — December 2, 1909 — page 63: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical poem titled "The Prayer of the Ingrate" that mocks wealthy people complaining about receiving too many Christmas gifts. The speaker dreads the holiday because they'll be showered with useless luxury items: lace jabots, fancy bags, ornamental shoe-horns (they already own fourteen), hand-knitted slippers, and unwanted books like *Ladies' Home Journal*. The satire's point is clear: the poem ridicules the absurd ingratitude of the privileged classes who have so much excess they can't even enjoy gift-giving. The accumulation of redundant, impractical items—especially the joke about "silver shoe-horns in plenty" and slippers "to fit out a centipede"—emphasizes wasteful overindulgence. The page also advertises Waterman's fountain pens as practical, useful gifts that contrast with the frivolous items the poem mocks. The financial advertisements (investment securities, bank stocks) further frame this as commentary on the wealthy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
I The Prayer of the Ingrate MT uy Tin > What gifts shall I get on this Christ- mas? I dread to think of the day— Of the awful things and the useless That are sure to come my way. There'll be all sorts of lace flami- diddles— Jabots—that I never could wear— And horrors in leather and hand-work For uses that make one stare! There'll be fancy covers with laundry lists— (And my washing’s done at home!) And “ Line-a-day” books and “ My Trip Abroad,” (And I never, never, roam!) There'll be silver shoe-horns in plenty, i (I've fourteeen now—indeed—) Worsted shoes and hand-knitted slippers To fit out a centipede! * And bags! Great Scott! Will you view em — Of silk and ribbon and lace. Some large, some small, but one and all Stuffed in a hiding place. ‘s And baskets! There's one for each Moses ~ 2 Not found on banks of the Nile. ld And booklets! Bran Mash for the mat Toothless ! A huge and het’rodox pile INVESTMENT ; 2D Oa, ; SECURITIES sien a Globe trade-mark. os >.< A Christmas Reminder Simple and gond as Waterman's Ideals are they make the best and most useful gifts that you can select for your friends or relatives. We emphasize the trade mark to assist you in buying; it cha rizes the only So 16 penthat is carefully made from the finest materials. T ves run from $2.80 new 2 yorn ‘Ss Bank and Trust || and High-Class for the handsomely finished plain style up toas much as you fancy to pay for Co. tocks Industrials yeas the richly gold or silver mounted styles. Whatever you pay our unconditional W. guarantee covers the pen. Gold Pens to suit every hand are exchangeable. q eae ee | gq} ithe sel Clip 08 Cap From Dealers Everywhere. Illustrated Booklet on Request. sale of Stocks in Banks || on acts demand. for aie cates L. E. Waterman Co., 173 Broadway, N. aod ‘Trost Cocapenies || security end upon busi- isnot, Cinee, Neaeiseiie, ha leita. Unde, "ole located anywhere in || ness operations for United States Our || profits, Our customers current Lists present || may invest in moderate unusual opportunities |/ amounts and pay in {or iavenment ia sew || convenient inutellments, I think of the stencil, and shudder, Alas for the lies T have uttered— we ee eek Eig: terest tovestment When I pass burnt leather I faint; And written with pencil or ink. eidead:payiog botbe: || in the werk! over forty And as for the Ladies’ Home Journal “So lovely!" and “Just what I We quote lowest prices, || thousand discriminating With its “Christmas Suggestions” wanted customers, “so quaint"! It frightens me now to think. cca Bag ScEs ase vec "No, 110" wats I shall make one strong gleeful effort— Forgive, blessed angel of Christmas! Backed by my soul-laden prayers, And take the temptation away STERLING DEBENTURE CORPORATION That a sample of each may certainly And save! Oh, save! if you love me, MADISON SOUARE na Rw YORE reach + From presents on Christmas Day! Those same editorial chairs! F.C. Stimson.