Life, 1918-12-05 · page 17 of 76
Life — December 5, 1918 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains wartime Christmas content, likely from World War I (given the France reference). The main elements are: **Poem "On Christmas Day"** by Ralph M. Thomson expresses poignant nostalgia—a father describes children celebrating Christmas at home while his heart remains with loved ones fighting in France, reflecting the emotional toll of the war on families separated by military service. **"The Consumer's Rejection Slip"** is satirical commentary on wartime inflation and economic hardship. Mrs. Steadie Patron formally rejects a butcher's bill as unreasonably expensive, using polite business language to mask her inability to afford meat prices. The satire targets both inflated wartime costs and the absurdity of consumers having to "reject" essential goods they cannot pay for. **"Christmas Eve" illustration** depicts gift-giving—a truck delivering presents—with the caption "If Every Boy in France Should Get What He Deserves," likely sarcastically suggesting soldiers deserve better treatment or compensation than they receive. Overall, the page balances sentimental patriotism with biting social commentary on wartime hardship affecting civilians.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Christmas _) Ou Christmas Day ON Liristinas day the tots will prane About the house, and laugh and dance And shout and sing, until the place Shall seem a fairyland, where grace And joy are mingled in romance And neither time nor circumstance Will have the slightest sort of chance To mar their pleasures as they race On Christmas day. But, boy, while I may often glance On each ecstatic countenance, And while each little one’s embrace May bring the sunshine to my face— My heart will be with you in France On Christmas day. Ralph M. Thomson, AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS The Consumer's Rejection Slip T is with regret that Mrs. Steadie Patron is obliged to return the en- closed meat bill. In doing so, she de- sires to thank the butcher for submit- ting it, and to express the hope that a more reasonable reckoning may here- after be forthcoming. The aforesaid customer feels sure that the butcher will understand, where so many bills are’ constantly being received and where her resources are unfortunately so limited, that only those bills can be honored which are perfectly conform- able to the standards of fair dealing. CHRISTMAS EVE IF EVERY BOY IN FRANCE SHOULD GET WHAT HE DESERVES