Life, 1914-12-17 · page 32 of 40
Life — December 17, 1914 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical dialogue presents two opposing Christmas philosophies. The **First Extreme** enthusiastically embraces Christmas shopping and gift-giving as expressions of generosity and ethical virtue. The **Second Extreme** dismisses Christmas consumerism as hollow hypocrisy—arguing that ostentatious one-day generosity allows people to ignore selfishness the rest of the year, and that commercial Christmas exploits retail workers and peddlers of junk. The satire critiques both positions. The First Extreme represents uncritical commercial enthusiasm; the Second represents cynical rejection. Neither can see merit in the other's view. The joke is that these "extremes" are equally rigid and incapable of genuine dialogue about Christmas's true meaning—they simply walk away in mutual contempt. The surrounding decorative illustrations of Christmas activities reinforce the contrast between commercial and spiritual interpretations of the holiday.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
When Extremes Meet at Christmas WO Extremes met at Christ- mas time. “IT am just about tired out,” declared the First Ex- treme. “I have been at it steadily now for several weeks mak- ing out lists and wandering through the shops and tying up parcels and shipping them off. I am giv- ing more presents this year than ever before.” “It would be impossible for me to give fewer presents this year than I gave last year, for the very good reason that I gave none at all last year and none the year before,” re- plied the Second Extreme. “To me the whole proceeding is the height of foolishness, It may have amounted to something at one time. That I can’t say, but if it ever did, it has long since degenerated into a hollow mock- ery, an abandored orgy of buying use- less stuff and distributing it without rime or reason to unappreciative per- sons.” “What an idea! I don’t see that at all,” objected the First Extreme. “To me Christmas is the greatest time of all the year. I look upon it as a great ethical anchor. Without the generous impulses which it inspires and keeps alive, human beings would soon degenerate into a race of crabbed and selfish barbarians.” “You are entirely mistaken,” re- torted the Second Extreme. “ The in- fluence of Christmas is wholly bad. Instead of filling the hearts of people with love and peace, it merely sub- stitutes a false and artificial sentiment for the real one that we need so badly. It makes people think that by an ostentatious display of generosity on that one day they are absolved for their selfishness during all the rest of the year, Don’t you see that?” “Not at all,” replied the First Ex- treme emphatically. “The spirit of Christmas is one of the most beautiful things in life.” “Do you mean the spirit of Christ- mas that actuates the dealer in use- less junk at outrageous prices or the spirit that overworks the shopgirls and sends them home at night all tired out for several weeks before Christ- mas or do you refer to the Spirit of Christmas that——” “TI see there is nothing whatever to be gained by talking to you. Sorry I met you, Bad-day.” “Same to you,” replied the Second Extreme, with equal fervor. Where- upon they both turned on their heels and strode off.