Life, 1924-12-11 · page 13 of 36
Life — December 11, 1924 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a holiday drama about a glass-blower who wants to create something meaningful for Christmas rather than pursue commercial success. The satirical elements mock both: 1. **American commercialism**: The dialogue critiques how villages exploit their craftspeople and demand profitable innovations ("Christmas tree ornament") rather than supporting authentic artistry. 2. **Industrial pressure**: Characters debate whether the craftsman should waste talent on "common silica" when he could create "exquisite" work, highlighting tensions between artistic integrity and market demands. The illustrated sound-effects panel ("Hoarse sound of cat choking on chicken-bone," "Moaning of tired fish at twilight") appears satirical commentary on overly sentimental or absurdist modern entertainment, mocking contemporary taste in humor and advertising. The overall message critiques how capitalism pressures artisans to commercialize rather than pursue genuine creative expression.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Glass Blower’s Christmas A Holiday Drama A Glass Blower’s Hut in Czecho-Slovakia. PRONTZ (singing with sarcasm) 4 I'm forever blowing His Motner: Yea, thou lary dolt— ever blowing the meanest of glass bes for the Christmas trees. No er expression of our art will they trust to thee. Never have I seen one so averse to blowing. ‘xontz (svithering his aged mother a look): Is it my fault that my her was a Scotsman? But soft, cmille approaches. Enter Chemille, the beautiful daugh- f Fulp, chief of the tribe-of glass Cie MILLE: Scene: Give thee good-den, andam, Tue Morier: Have some thyself, emille. (Sh joes out.) What news, my love? The worst American firm that purchases our age wares has sent word there is no ver a demand for them. Fulp, my in father, racks his brains and © of every man in the village for Already he has worn out ce racks. Proxtz: Prontz CHEMILLE: very news, And to no avail? Ciemute: To none whatever. All em to feel there is nothing new in blown-glass line, As a last resort is calling a council of the entire © to-night. Proxtz (eagerly) : m of our love? Cuemute: Yea. Oh, ver consent. “Marry the laughing- t our tribe?” he said. “The and laziest glass blower? Is the Hast spoken to Prontz, he will oH th LE IS & CP HOARSE SOUND OF CAT CHOKING ON CHICKEN- MICE OLD MAN FALLING DOWN STAIRS WITH VAL- VABLE BRICABRAC, CALL OF THE GlLUB-GLUB BIRD FOR ITS MATE SOUND OF IRON DOG WAGGING HIS TAIL. MOANING OF A TIRED FISH ~ mon voor | S00 noe - AT TWILIGHT PATTER OF RAIN ON A TIN EAR. cs ! PLAINTIVE MUTTERINGS OF A CAVE MAN (aasrnares om cove) HEN SNEEZING <> MUSIC UP-TO-DATE JUST A FEW f the chieftain to become Prontz thou lovest me? Cuesite: Alas, I do. But I am shamed for thee, Prontz. When all other young men of the village vie to see who can blow the largest—thou, (tenderly): And yet DAI sie SIGHTSEEING AT HOME MORE NOISES ADDED TO THOSE WE HAVE thou art ever persisting to sce how small thou canst blow. Prontz (passionately) : Shall I waste the breath on common silica that might be better spent breathing words of love into thy exquisite pink ears? Cuemitte (practically): Yes. goes out.) (She Curtain oe The Council Hut of the ers. The Villagers are assemblea. 'ULP: As you doubtless know, citi- zens, the American firm will not grant us our yearly check unless we can pro- duce another new idea in the G. B. line. As you doubtless know, we shall all starve in the bitter winter unless we can meet their conditions. And, as you doubtless know, our only other source of income, the Christmas tree ornament (Continued on page 29) comicbooks.com