Life, 1919-12-04 · page 25 of 80
Life — December 4, 1919 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story and cartoon address post-WWI economic hardship. The "Commin Peeple" are a poor middle-class family who cannot afford Christmas gifts for their children—Mr. Peeple works a modest office job with no union protection. The joke's twist: unexpected generosity arrives from working-class service providers (milkman, iceman, ashman, laundress, ice delivery man) whom the family previously helped during better times. Each gift comes with a personalized note showing gratitude. The satire cuts two ways: it both mocks the family's reduced circumstances and celebrates the loyalty of humble workers. The caption "Ah! my readers, who says Christmas is dying out?" suggests Life's optimistic message that despite economic hardship in 1919, human kindness and community bonds endure. The accompanying cartoon showing a child's confusion about "vulgarity" appears unrelated—likely a separate joke about social propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
etek LIFE: &# «ff. 94 y, Edna: were 1s your vuucaRity? Mrs, Porkus: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, CHILD? “MAMMA SAID IT WAS FASCINATING.” Christmas Eve, 1919 HHRISTMAS EVE, and Mr. and Mrs. Commin Peeple come sadly downstairs from putting the children to bed. Sadly, for well they know they will fill no little stockings in the fireplace glow this night. Were there a fireplace glow, there are no stockings. Were there stockings, there is no filling. No reindeer bells for them. Mr. Peeple is only a poor something or other in an office. There is no trade union for such as he. Tears dim their eyes as they think of bygone Christmas Eves when their hearts, like the little stockings, bulged with Christmas love, when their kindness overflowed to the milkman, the iceman, the ashman, to Laura, the laun- dress; to Maggie Magee, the cleaning woman. Hark! A sleigh in the street, a footfall on the frosty porch, a knock at the door. A hamper! Oh, glad surprise! Packages! Off with the holly ribbon! A twelve-pound turkey. “ When this you see, remember Maggie Magee.” Shoes, slightly worn. “ Maybe these will fitt your freddy and a Merry Xmas to you All, from Laura.” Candy, raisins, nuts, cigars. “ Holiday greetings. Pietro Donnelli, Secty, Amalgamated Ashmen.” Potatoes and a cabbage. “Comps of the seasoa. Wm. Scails, Pure Ice.” And a genuine silk necktie for Mr. Peeple from the milk- man. Ah! my readers, who says Christmas is dying out? WHAT SHE WANTS MOST OF ALL comicbooks.com