Life, 1912-12-05 · page 78 of 116
Life — December 5, 1912 — page 78: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains allegorical and humorous content rather than political cartoons. **"A Wireless to Santa Claus"** (top illustration): Shows a woman kneeling in prayer or supplication, seemingly sending a wireless message to Santa Claus—likely a whimsical commentary on modern technology (wireless transmission) meeting traditional Christmas wishes. **"Changed"** (verse): A brief poem mocking how marriage transforms a man from self-made and independent into something reshaped by his wife—a common domestic satire theme of the era. **"Real Places Not Down on the Map"**: An extended allegory describing "Boyville"—a fictional place representing childhood/adolescence situated between "Babyhood Junction" and "Youth Center," with mountains of Fate ahead. It satirizes boys' resistance to adult institutions (church, school) while celebrating their natural curiosity and lawlessness. The piece gently mocks both youth rebellion and adult attempts at civilizing influence. **"A Christmas Complaint"** (bottom cartoon): A humorous complaint from an elderly woman ("Miss Oldun") about ineffective mistletoe—implying romantic disappointment, playing on age and changing attractiveness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
26h45.. TIPE tobe A WIRELESS TO SANTA CLAUS Changed H E used to be a self-made man And then he lived in clover, But now he’s different to your scan— His wife has made him over. Real Places Not Down on the Map OYVILLE—This place lies just be- tween Babyhood Junction and Youth Center. The foothills of Ma- turity begin their gentle ascent here, and in the distance, faintly outlined against the sky, may be seen the mountains of Fate. There are various spires of these mountains, one of them called Fame Peak, rising to a great height. This can be reached from Boy- ville by various passes, most of these ure hidden and obscure. By search- ing diligently, however, their entrances can be found at the base of the hills. But the search must be earnest and persevering. Boyville is a pleasantly situated stretch of country, fed by turbulent streams, and upon which the sun shines always. It is only, indeed, when you begin to climb into the mountains that you meet with clouds and shadows. There have been various attempts to rebuild Boyville and introduce into it modern improvements. One attempt was the erection of a church. But this structure is only tolerated by the in- habitants, who avoid it when possible and much prefer the fields. Another attempt has been a school, but while it is completely filled part of the time. owing to the obnoxious supervision of a class of old fogies called Olympians, there is little enthusiasm. The inhab- itants, however, are exceedingly curi- ous and eager for knowledge, but for some singular reason they don't like the kind that can be obtained indoors. Boyville is not governed in the ordi nary manner. Its spirit appears to be one of pure law! Defiance of all authority, indeed, is its main boast. Fighting is the order of the day. Occasionally someone leaves Boy- ville, starts out of it quietly and as- cends the distant mountain of Fame. But he soon wanders back to Boyville and remains there the rest of his life. He can’t get beyond it. ssness. IME is like a taxi cab; when you have reached the end of your journey, you always feel that the reg- ister has been working against you. A CHRISTMAS COMPLAINT “ HELLO! 1S THIS BERRY’S? WELL, THIS IS MISS OLDUN, THAT MISTLETOE YoU SENT ME IS ABSOLUTELY NO GooD. 1 STOOD UNDER IT AN HOUR LAST NIGHT AND NOTHING HAPPENED.” comicbooks: -cOomMm wi