Life, 1916-12-07 · page 60 of 94
Life — December 7, 1916 — page 60: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical poem by Walter G. Doty mocks the fashionable over-gifting of Edward FitzGerald's translation of *The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam*, a Persian poetry collection that became wildly popular in America during the late 19th/early 20th century. The joke: Everyone gives copies as Christmas gifts without actually reading them. The author receives so many identical copies that he now simply regifts them from his accumulated pile. The poem notes that *Lucille* (another book, now forgotten) was the previous year's obligatory gift—suggesting this represents a cycle of thoughtless, trendy gift-giving. The accompanying illustration shows a crowd of people, likely representing the masses thoughtlessly participating in this fad. The satire targets both consumer culture and intellectual pretension: the Rubaiyat became a status symbol to own and gift, regardless of genuine literary interest.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Christmas Life Rubaipat-itis HEN Christmas morn had put the stars to flight I rose at length, and lo, before my sight Ten copies of the Rubaiyat appeared Which ten good friends had thought would strike me right. Whether at New Orleans or Babylon, Whether the cup with sweet or bitter run, Each Christmas when the postmen ring my bell The Rubaiyats keep coming one by one. Though well I love the poem Omar writ, I’m sorry that it e’er made such a hit; For every friend I have beneath the sun At Christmas time is sure to send me it. Lucille was once the proper thing to send, In padded leather, to a far-off friend. In days gone by we fairly sowed Lucilles, But now ‘tis Rubaiyat, world without end Strange, is it not, that of the myriads who Present old Omar bound in red or blue How seldom are the ones who, sending it, Have ever taken time to read it through! Myself I’ve often purchased three or four And given them to friends in days of yore; But now whene’er I give the Rubaiyat I simply take one from my growing store. Walter G. Doty. aNd Pec dona drial “NOBODY LOVES A FAT MAN” comicbooks.com