Life, 1923-12-20 · page 24 of 36
Life — December 20, 1923 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on American wealth and consumption circa early 1900s. **"A Furrier's Bedtime Story"** (illustrated): A wealthy furrier tells his children a bedtime story featuring animals all named as types of seals—exploiting a dark joke. When a mysterious visitor arrives, the boy immediately identifies it as a "Backfence Seal" worth $98.50 with "well-matched skins," revealing the child has been raised entirely within the fur trade's logic. The satire targets how commercial interests corrupt even childhood innocence, and how the wealthy rationalize animal exploitation through playful language. **"A Christmas Query"** (poem): Mabel Haughton Collyer sarcastically questions whether "Uncle Sam" (the U.S. government/wealthy Americans) is satisfied giving only one-half of one percent to charity during Christmas—when giving is supposedly universal. The satire highlights the stinginess of the rich despite their abundance. **"Christmas Gloves" quip**: A throwaway joke about the impracticality of gift-giving—even simple items like gloves never fit properly. All three items mock wealth, consumerism, and moral hypocrisy among the privileged classes.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ANOTHER SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER a} ke 9 A Cm Bes A Furrier’s Bedtime Story T was the hour of the bedtime story in the home of the rich manufacturing furrier. “And that night,” the furrier was saying, “the little animals were invited to an elegant party out in the woods. It was the birthday of little Peter Near-Seal.” “What animals were invited?” eagerly asked the furrier’s little son. “Oh, every one,” said his father. “There was Reginald Almost-Seal, and Polly Seemslike-Seal, and Willie Hudson- Seal, and Tommy Northern-Seal, and Billy Notquite——” “Dear me, weren't there any animals but seals at the party?” pouted Minkie, the furrier’s baby daughter. “Hoh!” cried her superior brother. “All animals are some kind of seal, aren't they, Papa?” “—_and they were all dressed up in their best party pelts,” the furrier continued, ignoring the interruption. “Just as they were about to sit down to their ice cream and cake there was a scratching at the door, and who do you think came in?” “Who?” asked both children at once. “You'll have to guess, but I'll give you a hint. He had long whiskers and green eyes that could see in the dark, and the first thing he asked for was catnip.” “Oh, I know,” shouted the boy, clapping his hands. “It was a Backfence Seal. They make up fine and sell for ninety-eight-fifty, with well-matched skins, don’t they, Papa?” For the boy was Papa’s own child and born to the fur business. Arthur H. Folwell. A Christmas Query New is the month of merry days When all the world at giving plays, When rich men give to make a hit, And poor men give their little bit— When kings invite their serfs to sup, And children hang their stockings up— When everybody, .boy and man, Bestows on friends the most he can. Dear Uncle Sam, are you content To give one-half of one per cent.? Mabel Haughton Collyer. ANYBODY. that ever got the right sized gloves at Christ- mas would have a fit. comicbooks.com