Life, 1925-12-25 · page 11 of 37
Life — December 25, 1925 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct sections: **"Early American Chestnut"** (left): A poem celebrating a street vendor selling roasted chestnuts from under a tree, with detailed descriptions of his furniture, rugs, and merchandise. The poem humorously catalogs his wares and regular customers, ending with a sentimental reflection on his honest trade. **"Yule—1925"** (right): A short story about a poor boy named Ruddy delivering Christmas packages. The illustration shows him at a doorbell, where he encounters a child asking "Mother! Here's the handyman." This appears to comment on class distinctions and childhood innocence during the Depression era. **"Indispensable"** and **"Another Look"**: Brief humorous dialogue pieces about automobiles and romantic relationships, respectively. The page reflects 1920s American life, poverty, and social commentary through satirical verse and vignettes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Early American Chestnut [SPER the spreading chestnut tree The village smithy stands, “Ye Antique Shoppe” ’tis come to be, Stocked with Colonial brands ; The smith, a canny dealer he, Keeps little on his hands. His slat-back chairs are very fine, His pewter’s better yet; His lustre ware’s of choice design (Three hundred bucks a set) ; And you should see his early pine And walnut cabinet. His hooked rugs fetch a pretty price That makes the tourists roar, His stretcher tables stretch into A sum of figures four; But Ict his peevish patrons sulk, Fach new day brings him more, The children coming home from school Earn small but honest jack, By scraping here and painting there To hide an ugly crack; They love to smear on “patina” And play with stick shellac. candlestick and sandwich glass, ach has a place on view, Authentic bits by Chippendale, \ Duncan Phyfe, or two; His great-great-great- grandmother's hed He'll gladly sell to you. Sometimes he thinks back on the days Of grayer, darker skies, When, toiling o'er a grimy forge, He carned his we supplies, And with a smooth, soft hand he wipes A tear out of his eyes. Piecing—adapting—borrowing From one to help the rest, Who knows when rubbed with oil and waxed It’s not a “Salem chest,” Or that his maple highboys come From out the Middle West? Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend With keen New England brains; Thanks, thanks to thee, our homes can boast Old patchwork counterpanes. For though the horse fast grows extinct The trusting ass remains. Henry William Hanemann, Patricia: pon’t you Just love ARLEN? Patrick: WELL, YES—BUT THEN, YOU SEE, I WAS BORN THERE. Yule—1925 UDDY-CHEEKED irom the cold, and carrying a big, well-filled bag on his shoulder, he climbed carefully to the third floor of the walk-up apart- ment and rang the bell. His eyes had a pleasing twinkle. The snow had not yet lost its glitter on his pack—it was Christmas Eve. From behind the closed door came the cheery noise of children at play. Suddenly there was a rush of feet The door opened, and out peered the inquisitive face of a little inside. Shez, DARN It! THERE GOES THE TELEPHONE! girl of eight. He did not have to speak. Her face lit up. Quickly she appraised the stranger and cried: “Mother! Here's the laundryman.” There is no Santa Claus. Oscar Olsen. Indispensable LOVE automobiles. For getting a fellow to within three miles of his office they cannot be equaled. They enable a family to reduce the time spent at home to the minimum. They get all the children home and in bed by three a. M. They let a fellow into the conversa- tion, I love automobiles. I have never owned one. McC. H. Another Look ETHEL: Do you believe in love at first sight? Bo No indeed. : Oh, dear! again to-morrow night. Well, come back HICAGO is making war on crime. It is rumored that the police force will be asked to assist. comicbooks.com