Life, 1920-12-02 · page 42 of 97
Life — December 2, 1920 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* presents satirical Christmas cards mocking various social figures during the Prohibition era (likely 1920s-early 1930s). **"To a Prohibitionist"**: Mocks temperance advocates by wishing they had "water on the brain" and could "miss a drink"—suggesting prohibitionists are foolish and hypocritical. **"To the Coal Man"**: References wartime/postwar coal shortages and price-gouging; the sender wishes to give modest gifts rather than lavish ones due to inflated costs. **"To the Tailor"**: Satirizes tailors' tendency toward ostentatious display, wishing the tailor would dress more modestly. **"To the Landlord"**: A bitter complaint about housing conditions and unaffordable rent, hoping to keep the same roof overhead—suggesting financial struggle. The cards collectively lampoon economic hardship, profiteering, and the unpopular Prohibition movement through mock Christmas wishes expressing opposite sentiments from genuine goodwill.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Christmas Cards 5 PNP Abita TO THE COAL MAN od. friend ae eyour charges show [Gite folly of display ce his little scene depicted here a pee my wish foryou this year : Therefore in simple state I go AS on my nata or TO THE TAILOR Christmas Life | We'd Like to Send “TOA y “Frohibitionist \ [Khoo watt watér on the brain How I wish thatyou were sane” Wish you had the power t6 think So thatyou might miss.a drink ! TO A PROHIRITIONIST = [Nox I lay me down to sleep yPon, OA oer my hea TO THE LANDLORD comicbooks.com ‘When I wake Lhope ts find the same zoof