Life, 1920-12-02 · page 29 of 97
Life — December 2, 1920 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes political cartoons with poetry. The top cartoons employ dark humor about contemporary anxieties: 1. **"Motorscooter vs. Death"**: A satirical jab at the new motorscooter technology—treating it as dangerously reckless, personifying Death as a competitor in a "race for life." This reflects 1920s public concern about automobile safety. 2. **"Human Life on Balance"**: Depicts children on a scale against a beast, likely representing childhood vulnerability weighed against societal dangers—possibly referencing post-WWI anxieties about children's safety. 3. **Wedding at St. Margaret's Westminster**: The caption's sarcastic tone ("purple passion flower of the Haute Noblesse") mocks high-society wedding ceremonies and aristocratic pretension. The **"Ballade of Christmas"** by Carolyn Wells is a traditional poetic form critiquing Christmas commercialism—the repeated refrain "Christmas comes but once a year" ironically undercuts warnings against overspending on gifts during economic uncertainty. The poem suggests people buy recklessly despite debt. Overall, the page reflects post-WWI concerns: technological danger, social class mockery, and economic anxiety during the holiday season.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
December 2, 1920 A race for life between Death and the Earl of Bunkaster’s new Motorscooter. Which will win? A human life is shimmying in the balance! yhat does it weigh? 10 ; 5 At St. Margaret's, Westminster, the ancient And so with the fading dawn came the twi- words were spoken and the simple Forest light of a new day. Weed became the purple passion flower of the Haute Noblesse. Ballade of Christmas By Carolyn Wells a or fuhateber makes it go, And in the speech of friends J'be The World's heart is on Christ- ] | Reeps this old forld re- met mas set, ‘os Salging yet; The Christmas spirit seems to flom Tt knofvs no theme but Christmas And nofe the finter’s frost and @®r bubble in tempestuous jet. cheer;, ; snofr & feel myself drafon in the net St seems to be Life’s one best bet Rounds out the seasonal quartette. OF all this craze the foorld holds That Christmas comes but once a And nofu, like some mad, gay dear, year! soubrette Repeating like x parroguet, The world puts on its Christmas That Christmas comes but once a LEnboi: ae 7 Gear. Prince, Christmas joy fwe'll give and And starts to prance and pirouette, The orld is Christmas mad, and so # ine ms 8 | For Christmas comes but once # Ot is no time for cure or fret; But, xs fe slip into the sere, | year: Buy gifts, unheeding tohat you ofve, Do fue note, {vith unmixed regret, | For weeks I'he seen young faces Buy gifts though you must nm That Christmas comes but once glofs; int debt. ° a pear? comicbooks.com