Life, 1917-12-06 · page 66 of 92
Life — December 6, 1917 — page 66: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Christmas during World War I, likely 1914-1918. The "Interview with Santa Claus" is the main piece, presenting Santa as pragmatically adapting to wartime conditions. **Key satirical points:** - Santa has renamed his reindeer from German names (Donder, Blitzen, etc.) to Allied names: Sammy, Gaspard, Scotty, Pat—reflecting anti-German sentiment and national allegiances. - His wife has left toy-making to nurse wounded soldiers, suggesting civilian sacrifice for the war effort. - Most pointedly, Santa maintains a German workshop "to not overlook German children," inscribed with "We have no quarrel with the German people"—a humanistic counterpoint to wartime hatred, suggesting children shouldn't suffer for adult conflicts. **The "Cautious Christmas Card"** ironically promises practical gifts (tools, axes) and "inexpensive greetings," mocking economic hardship during wartime. The lower cartoon and "His Proposition" appear unrelated to the war theme—humor filler typical of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Christmas Life A Cautions: Christmas Card trust you'll find your stockings, socks and shoes full Of gifts both economical and useful— Like kuitting-bags and garden-tools and axes. FI wish you feealth enough to pay your taxes, e merry feast — ax moderate collation, To met foith Me. Boober'e approbation; The inexpensive greetings of the season, And eGerything you wish!—at least, iw reason. Interview with Santa Claus The old gentleman winked his eye gently. fhat’s my secret. Just a little idea of my “VY/ELL, old fellow,” I said to Santa Claus, as 1 climbed up the fire-escape and sat down, “ any- thing new this year?” “I've had to rename those reindeer,” he said. ~ Their names were too German. I call ’em Sammy and Gaspard and Scotty and Pat. Nothing specially Funny thing that my actual business has never been so poor, but somehow the good-will was never more pronounced. Fact is, I don’t depend altogether on gifts.” Everybody tells their It’s quite the thing. “I'm dying to know, Christmas secrets beforehand. Perhaps you didn’t know that.” “Yes, yes—you can’t fool me; well—" He lowered his voice. “You won't give me away?” “No.” new. “Haven't you lost weight?” “Well, I should say I had. Been dieting. Thought ought to. Do you know, I feel better for it.” “ How's the missus?” “Deserted me entirely this year. She said she thought that making toys was less important than nursing. She's at the front.” “Things look about the same?” “Yes, Take a look around. This is my Belgian and French workshop, this is my American and British, and here’s the rest of the world.” “What's that closed building over there?” “Well, then, it’s my German building. You see, they are not making toys in Germany this year to any extent, and I don’t want to overlook those Ger- man children.” “But consider!” He opened the door, In large letters like a great frieze was inscribed the following legend: “We have no quarrel with the German people.” “What's the matter with that?” he said. “Isn't . that all right?” I grasped him by the hand. “You bet it’s all right!” I exclaimed. JUST SUPPOSE His Proposition UDGE: I'm going to fine you five dollars for the chickens you stole t two weeks. How'll it be if Ah pays y. Jedge? Dat'll pay foh up to an’ includin’ next Saturday night. comichookSieam Onn