Life, 1920-12-23 · page 31 of 44
Life — December 23, 1920 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on wealth distribution and Christmas traditions circa early 20th century. **The Letter:** A wealthy donor explains giving $25,000 to a friend, framing it as neither pure gift nor obligation. The satire targets the multimillionaire's self-justification—he's uncertain whether his money will do "good," admits his choice is "only a guess," yet presents himself as thoughtfully philanthropic. The humor lies in the donor's verbose rationalization for what is essentially an arbitrary act of wealth dispersal. **The Cartoon:** A sister tells her brother Billy not to reveal Santa's non-existence to their grandparents, who still believe. It's gentle satire about generational pretense and the value of maintaining comforting illusions. **"Reasons for Abolishing Christmas":** A satirical list offering absurd justifications (it's old-fashioned, labor wasn't consulted, it's 24 hours long) while the actual reason—most people don't want it abolished—undermines the premise. This mocks progressive reformers proposing radical changes contrary to public opinion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
~-LIFE 1195 Letters from a Multimillionaire Containing a Christmas Check to One Among a Number of Close Friends Y DEAR ——: T enclose here el that hy plac- my check for twenty-five thousand to stay alive. By giving it to you now ing it with you I am not taking so ht 1 am getting rid of all court pro- chances with itas I might in‘other cedure, and am forestalling time itself. You, have been honest. You have th «the benefit of it, just because I happened a guess at best. But I fi dollars, with my compliments and hest — oute wishes for your Christmas. But. knoy It involves no obligation on your part your engagements. You have been cheer- ing your delicacy of feeling and y native sense of independence, I realize You can do as you please with it, ful and resigned under difficulties. You that there may be some reluctance on This money is of no earthly value to have steadfastly refused to nurse a gr not actually belong to me. Only — you closely uch. I know, because I e watched ar me. It has done all to me that it can It de for a few y your part in accepting what may to you such a large amount. For this tha n definitely my reasons for i what shall be done with it. After that it with superfluous rs have I any power to say The most dificult problem for any reason I at it is incumbent upon me to expla ene § will be redistributed. To apportion it give it away. In any eve! this action. where I think it will do the most good is, always be an experime This check is not so much a gift as a after all, only a guess. But inasmuch as use this money as i n so fortu’ ought to be ¢ (or unfortunate) — then this will only prove that I have been as to have had the opportunity to gather wrong, and will serve as a_ less legacy. I left it to you in my will, It I have be then occurred to me that I might live along for some time, that you were grow- it together, I have a right to guess where others. This is the most that I ing old with me, and that there was really it can be placed to do the most good. No Faithfully yours ho reason why you should he deprived of — matter where I do place it, it will be only Sister (spending Christmas in the country): Now, BILLY, DON'T TELL GRANDPA AND GRANDMA | THERE AIN'T NO SANTA CLAUS, CAUSE THEY STILL THINK THERE Is! Reasons for Abolishing Christmas already embodied in the Covenant of the League of Nations. ECAUSE it is an age-old institution, hence a stumbling Because it is a twenty-four-hour day. Because it has never block to progress. Because organized labor was, never been abolished before. Because the vast majority of the people consulted about it. Because its message of peace on carth is do not want it abolished. comicbooks.com