Life, 1921-12-08 · page 3 of 34
Life — December 8, 1921 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains a humorous poem titled "The Knight Before Christmas" by Commie Rockwell Swain, paired with a detailed illustration captioned "Working Overtime Just Now." The poem presents a knight boasting to his wife about household management—servants, staff, and equipment all functioning perfectly—before Christmas. His wife responds that the real point is simply spreading holiday cheer to all. The illustration depicts a chaotic household scene filled with numerous workers and servants frantically managing domestic tasks: cooking, cleaning, maintenance, and childcare. The contrast between the knight's smugly ordered description and the actual bedlam shown in the drawing creates the satire—it mocks upper-class pretense about effortless household management, revealing the frantic, invisible labor required to maintain such establishments, particularly during the busy pre-Christmas season.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Knight Before Christmas HE knight, before Christmas, observed to his spouse, “I'm charmed with the service, all over the house ! . The sentinels never are guilty of naps ; My varlets are constantly doffing their caps. Dear Mother-in-law has abandoned her rages ; My squire alertly turns down the fresh pages. Nurse Margery curtsies, the kitchen-wench bows ; The rustics raise marvelous porkers and cows. My minstrel’s loud carois resound with my fame ; The jester’s quaint stories are never the same. It’s pleasant to note (though the date is but recent) Our people all acting so awfully decent ! This shows us, my dear, that with common accord, They're happy to serve so distinguished a lord.” The cook offers daily my favorite dishes; The butler’s a wonder at guessing my wishes; The steward’s all ginger, in spite of his years ; Wherever I glance, a retainer appears. My barber excels in his deftness and speed ; The grooms puts a satiny gloss on my steed ; My armor is scoured till it dazzles my sight, My sword and my spear are abnormally bright. But his lady replied, with a smile on her lips, “The season approaches for holiday tips, And your motto is plain, if you'll read it aright : ‘Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good knight !"” Corinne Rockwell Swain Working Overtime Just Now comicbooks.com