Life, 1927-12-01 · page 48 of 80
Life — December 1, 1927 — page 48: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Christmas issue of *Life* magazine contains several short humorous pieces satirizing American society circa early 1900s: **"Capital"** mocks how wealth accumulation is celebrated regardless of method—borrowing from relatives or relying on electric signs receives equal admiration. **"Beyond Temptation"** jokes darkly about jury corruption: a defendant's only hope of acquittal vanishes when the one potentially sympathetic juror (with mortgage troubles) inherits money, removing his financial desperation. **"Mrs. Multimillions"** satirizes wealthy laziness—a spoiled child won't even write his own Santa letter, expecting servants to do it. **"The Obstinate Bivalve"** uses the oyster as metaphor for ambitious young men who overestimate their ability to "crack" the world's opportunities. **"The Trinity"** and **"Epitaph"** offer dark holiday humor about childhood religion and marital death. The top cartoon shows Santa rejecting a political candidacy, likely referencing contemporary election speculation. Overall, the page targets class pretension, moral compromise, and American materialism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
i i j U x Sr da ahaa nnd pty ee SANTA CLAUS: Capital SEE Joe Briggs is making a success of himself.” “TL know it. And he began ou a shoe-string.” “Tom Moss getting rich, too?” “Yes. He borrowed few hundred from his father-in-law. That's how he got his start.” “And what do you think of Abe Goldber; “Remarkable! I can remem- ber when he started doing busi- All he had was an electric Bill Sykes. ness. sign.” Beyond Temptation DDEFENDANT: Do you think there is ¢ chance of my being acquitted ? Arrorney: It begins to look very doubtful. The only juror who had a mortgage on his house has just inherited fifty thousand dollars. It’s no use arguing, boys. Christmas C-> Gi £¢ ~S Nunber? ase A Disastrous Decision | MRS. MULTIMILLIONS: Aren't you going to write your letter to Santa Claus, dear? REGINALD: Really, Mother, can't one of the servants do it? | ave e him man. tere DPPC Re This year, I do not choose to run. The Obstinate Bivalve QYULL many a lad trained to swagger and roister, Who feels that the world’s his particular oyster, When seizing the shell of the cosmos to whack it Perceives, in dismay, that it’s no cinch to crack it! AL. L. The Trinity N ‘CY was four. Buddie was AN three. Buddie was crying vehemently and refused to listen to reason. “ALL right, then,” at last said his sister in exasperation. ‘Just yell. But ember—God an’ the devil an’ Santy Claus are all lookin’ at yo EPITAPH for Father: “Xmas marks the spot where the body. fell.” SEES, = comicbooks.com i9 i 1 b ALY SSN a aR ~