Life, 1924-12-11 · page 9 of 36
Life — December 11, 1924 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a jury debate about whether Santa Claus exists. Various characters argue their positions: a Father blames bills for disbelief, a Mother criticizes messy Christmas cleanup, a Politician wants muzzles on "interfering" elements, and a Barber, Hack Writer, and others contribute cynical takes. The central cartoon shows a woman at a piano—captioned as hopefully playing "Love's Old Sweet Song" instead of starting her husband's radio—a domestic joke about competing entertainments. Below, "Ma! How Big Is Santa Claus?" depicts a child asking about Santa's size, likely illustrating childhood innocence versus adult skepticism. The satire mocks adults' loss of Christmas wonder through cynicism, bills, and modern distractions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The True Believer HE Jury of Public Opinion had retired to ballot on the existence i Santa Claus. I don’t believe in him,” said the ither. “I know too blamed well who ys the bills.” 1 don't believe in him,” said the lother. “Not after cleaning out the hristmas-tree mess every year.” If there’d been a Santa,” said the own Son, “I'd never have flunked finals.” “And no Santa Claus would ever ve handed me the gin to gimme such adache,” snapped the Flapper. “A real Santa would keep the graft- s out of office,” snorted the Woman Public Life. “And put muzzles on interfering iets,” snarled the Politician. He'd have seen to it that that ex- ess didn’t rip off my mudguard,” owled the Speed Bug. I'd like to see any gent get out of y shop alive with his whiskers in hit condition,” declared the Barber. The Tiny Tot, the Sales Lady and the Hack Writer added their dissent. “Since we are all agreed that there » no Santa Claus,” said the Woman Public Life, who, of course, was reman, “we will report to the Court “Wait a minute, wait a minute,” nterrupted the twelfth member, who MA! HOW BIG 1S SANTA CLAUS?” The Maid: KEYS EVERY NIGHT IN HOPES “LOVE'S OLD SWEET SONG,” had not yet spoken, “believe in Santa Claus. Every year don’t my stuff get rottener an’ rottener, an’ every year don't the people holler more for it? Every year don't I charge ‘em more an’ givvum » an’ every year don't they fall over themselves tryin’ to get it? Who brings me the fatheads with lotsa jack, if it ain't Santa Claus?” “One moment, please,” broke in the Woman in Public Life, coldly. “Just who are you?" “Tm a Movin’ Pitcher Exhibitor. Sure, I believe in Santa Claus!” Tip Bliss. Take the Credit HEN others praise your work don’t be deprecating. It is false modesty, and besides, you may be wrong. Or worse, you may be right Fable NCE upon a time there was a man who admitted that he had no sense of humor. SHE'S A HOPEFUL SOUL, SHE Is! HER INSTEAD OF STARTIN’ DUSTIN’ OFF THE PIANO HUSBAND WILL ASK HER TO PLAY Mis RADIO! A Business Letter NTLEMEN: We acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Ith instant, requesting ayment of our past due account. In y we beg to advise that we have ivided our creditors into three groups, as follows: Group 1. Those that will be paid within a reasonable time. Group 2. Those that are not ex- cluded from the possibility of a later payment Group 3. Those that will not be paid under any circumstances. In view of the kind and lenient senti- ments ur letter, it gives us pleasure to advise you that ressed in y bur claim has been realigned—from Group 3 to Group 2. Very truly yours, D. Beatt & Co. R-r-revenge! CLAUDIA: I hate you! I hate you! Craup: Well, what are you gomg to do about Crauptia: I'm going to get a job asa telephone operator. I hate you beastly men. HE newly elected woman Secretary of State of New York says women are as fit to govern as men. If they're no fitter than that they're not fit to. comicbooks.com