Life, 1928-12-14 · page 13 of 48
Life — December 14, 1928 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This illustration satirizes nostalgic idealization of the 1890s. The caption explains that the "Santa Claus myth" of that era—portrayed as wholesome and genteel—was disrupted when Christmas trees caught fire, forcing Santa to abandon his "Mysterious Reindeer" for practical concerns. The scene depicts a domestic crisis: a family gathered around what appears to be a burning or smoking Christmas tree, with Santa confronting the reality of the situation rather than maintaining magical pretense. The detailed household interior, formal dress, and children present contrast sharply with the chaos and danger. The satire mocks how nostalgia romanticizes the past while ignoring its genuine hazards and inconveniences—in this case, the very real fire danger of candlelit Christmas trees in the 1890s.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Tue Gay Nineties The Santa Claus myth, back in the candle-lit Nineties, was usually good up to that inevitable Christmas Eve when the tree caught fire and forced the Old Gentleman to abandon his réle of Mysterious Benefactor for one of a more practical nature. got to tell ya. Grandpa hurt his foot fearful an he can’t go out. Sometimes I think he’s glad cause he’s so contentful when he can just sit an rock in the kitchen, an smoke an wonder when the next meal’s comin. Grandma don’t let him get off too easy though, cause once in a while he has to peel potatoes. When he begins to look like somethin in the zoo, Grandma calls in the barber. This mornin he was shavin Grandpa in the about it. Oh, speakin about trouble, I for-| kitchen when Grandma comes in. She THE MOVIE INFLUENCE says, “Tom Skinner, take that stove cloth! —Sctroot-reacier: Johnnie Wilson, off your neck.” : haven't you written your composition When Grandma found out that it was} yet? the towel the barber brought with him,|” Jounwte: No, teacher, but I can whistle she suddenly thought of all the beds she} you the theme song. had to make an ran upstairs. Affectionately sincere, Hersert Hoover says that pros- " perity progresses from the full dinner pail to the full garage. Yes, and from the full garage to the full parking-space. comicbooks.com