Life, 1911-12-07 · page 63 of 112
Life — December 7, 1911 — page 63: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the predictable, formulaic content of Christmas issues in popular magazines. The opening dialogue mocks how these annual editions recycle identical seasonal imagery year after year—plum pudding illustrations, mistletoe scenes, angels, and snowy churches—presented as if novel and charming. The text ridicules recurring "Christmas Number" articles like "Xmas in Many Lands" (described as perpetually recycled) and sentimental pictures of overcrowded family dinners where relatives will need digestive tablets afterward. The poem "A Generous Soul" offers biting irony: a man prides himself on his kindness to beggars and the unfortunate, but actually gives only *attention*, *advice*, *addresses*, and *glances*—never actual help or money. The punchline ("Yet never spends a cent") exposes shallow sentimentality masquerading as generosity. The cartoon below shows whimsical animal toys, captioned as teaching children "things as they are"—a humorous contradiction in selling fantastical creatures as educational.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIPE- 1025 The Xmas Numbers OME, Xmas Rollo, let us ‘umbers! look at the Let us acquire some of the good cheer of the Yuletide. How beautiful are the pictures on the covers, are they not? How intensely novel the de- the girl with the plum pudding aflame and the holly in her hair. Ts it not quaint? And, as I live, here is a girl under the mistletoe with pouted lips. What odd fancies these artists have! Here are angels at choir practice and Santa Claus in an air ship! And sce this purple church and the snow, how pink it is as it falls! Now we will turn to the contents. Consider this strong statistical article, Xmas in Many Lands.” It is alw a good one. It is kept standing con- stantly in some of the offi Ah—here we have a lovely illustra- tion, “ Xmas at the Old Home.” See all the relatives—how pie-faced they look as they gather round the board. Contemplate all the food. Is it not sentimental to think they are going to overeat? They will have to take pep- sin tablets for a week, This ure never loses its simple wholesome drag on the reading pub- lic. That is why it is never left out. Never was there an old home so old as this! Now, here, we have a bit of variet, Xmas in Camp.” This young man in the wrinkled pants and the sombrero, with a handkerchief tied about his neck, frying bacon over the fire is a What a_ strong, splendid specimen of manhood he is! How fas- cinating he would look in’ regular sponged and pressed clothes! cowboy. Now comes a pathetic poem, “ Xm: in the Poorhouse.” How uncomfor- table it makes us feel! Turn quickly THE FLIRT This other young man, sitting down, seems to be polishing golf balls. we are wrong. over Look closer and you A Generous Soul _ Look will sce that he is peeling potatoes with BEGGAR stopped me on the way And sought a modest pension— 1 felt so very good that day I gave him—my attention A widow called and asked me for Assistance o'er the ice. I sent her from my office door With heaps of—good advice. An old time friend came later in A deal of sore distress, But though ‘twas clear he wanted tin I gave him—my address. A tenant up dd luck One bitter winter's day Resought relicf—I gave the duck Another day to pay. A stranger on the snowy street Rehearsed a tale of guile, And though I knew ‘twas indiscreet I gave the man—a smile. Then came a sad and stranded wight, An immigrant from France, And begged a lodging over night, And got—a kindly glance. © what a thrill! How deep! How truc! These times so glad and gay, Doth come from helping others through The woes that dog their way How triply blest is he who shares, From his abundance pent, Those gifts to ease another's cares, Yet never spends a cent! Wilberforce Jenkins. Seg wy MORE NEW ANIMAL TOYS VERY HELPF ‘G THE YOUNG TO KNOW THINGS AS TILEY ARE comicbooks.com