Life, 1912-12-05 · page 47 of 116
Life — December 5, 1912 — page 47: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page advocates for reforming Christmas celebrations to be more "safe and sane." Life magazine, which previously championed a safer Fourth of July, now proposes simplifying Christmas traditions. The article criticizes two specific practices: street Santas employed by charities and stores (which it argues commercialize and cheapen the Santa myth), and adult gift-giving (which the author claims creates "worry and anxiety and hypocrisy"). The top illustration titled "Mistaken Identity" appears to show confusion or deception involving Santa—likely illustrating how imitation Santas undermine children's belief in the genuine Santa Claus figure. The bottom cartoon caption "Aw! What's the use of being good? It didn't get me nothin'" depicts a disappointed child, satirizing how commercialism and inconsistent gift-giving practices undermine Christmas's moral lessons about virtue and reward. The satire targets excessive commercialization and the erosion of Christmas sentiment through profit-driven practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Safe and Sane Christmas T is known by nearly everybody that Lire was the first periodical to ad- vocate a safe and sane Fourth of July. Lire proposes to follow up this suc- cess of the Fourth by the advocacy of a safe and .sane Christmas. It is hoped that the movement will become widespread. Everybody is invited to join it. Everybody is interested, for the present Christmas practices involve everybody. Please understand that it is not iLire’s desire to do away with Christ- jmas. On the contrary, its best tradi- jtions must be preserved, Santa Claus must continue to reign. But that a radical change in our methods of cele- brating Christmas is greatly needed, everyone will admit. Only by educat- ling the people up to a simpler and MISTAKEN IDENTITY higher standard can satisfactory re- sults be obtained. Here are some of the reforms great- ly needed: Prevention of imitation Santa Clauses from exhibition on the streets by charitable organizations, or in dry goods stores for commercial purposes. This horrible practice ruthlessly shat- ters all of the fine sentiment about Santa Claus, which should be carefully preserved, and not made to serve the purposes of trades people or doubtful charities. The total elimination of present- giving to any but children, This will keep the Christmas spirit where it be- longs, and will do aw entirely with a whole mass of worry and anxiety “aw! wna and hypocrisy. It is not too much to Coop? IT DIDN’T GET ME S THE USE 0” BE} OTHIN’.’ comicbooks.com