Judge, 1889-12 · page 39 of 53
Judge — December 1889 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the difficulty of selecting Christmas gifts. Mr. and Mrs. Peddicord discuss gift-giving challenges, then humorously browse newspaper advertisements. The joke is that the ads featured—for safes, tombstones, and industrial metal fences—are absurdly unsuitable as presents. Mrs. Peddicord jokes that a tombstone would be a perfect hint to Uncle Joe to make his will. The couple ultimately decides to send cash instead, noting that tangible gifts often disappoint recipients. The satire mocks both overly practical (or morbid) gift suggestions and the commercialism of Christmas advertising. The moral conclusion warns against lavish gift-giving, as unpaid debts and disappointed expectations often follow the holidays. The page also contains period advertisements for Kodak cameras and Steinway pianos—themselves presented as luxury gift options.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHRISTMAS JUDGE APPROPRIATE CHRISTMAS GIFT 66), DEAR!” exclaimed Mrs. 9 John Henry Peddicord ; “this thing of thinking up Christ- mas presents gets worse and worse every year. It seems like ’s though there are a dozen more to buy for every Christmas than the Christmas before.” “TIL help you to select what you want,” said Mr, John Henry Ped cord. “Have you made out a of people you want to remember? : I have,” she replied, look- ing in a sort of hopeless way a long slip of paper. ** There are papa and mamma, you know; and James and Susie and Freddy and the bal ‘Then there are Uncle Joe and” “ Never mind reading the names, Perhaps it will be easier to think of the presents first and then see for whom they seem most suitable. Have you any at all selected yet?” Comf table? “No; not one.” “No. “Well, we'll see what things are Roaches 2 advertised in the papers as suitable for Christmas presents.” And John Henry Peddicord took up his paper and glanced at the advertising columns. ‘There seem to be plenty of Christmas goods advertised, but they don’t seem to suit. Here, for instance, is * Lockem’s Fire and Burglar-proof Safes, suitable for Christmas gifts.” And here’s another : * Marbler’s Tombstones ¢ Christmas gifts.” We might send one of them to Uncle Joe,” suggested Mrs, John Henry, ironically. Which, the safe or the tombstone ?” “The tombstone, of course. It would be such a good hint to him “No” (chuckling), to get his will made. I'm afraid if it isn’t made soon we won't get much of his mone “Here's another suggestion: *Our Expanded Metal Fences are admirably adapted for holiday presents.’ Well, those people have queer ideas of what are suitable for Christ- mas presents, 1 must say. I be- lieve you are just making that up, John Henry. “Indeed, I'm not. You can see for yourself. There are plenty more just like them too. Here's a port- able locomotive firm which thinks a steam-engine just the thing; and a little lower in the same column Dr. Bromin’s gout extractor is recom- mended as a recherche Christmas me!" sighed Mrs. Peddi- hey don’t help a bit. Let’s send a little card to each one, and say on it that Christmas presents are out of style.” “T'm afraid that would be very “ Hayctever."” tory to the expectants ; ° but I think we might inclose a bank-bill to each one of about the value of the present we would buy, with a note asking each to buy the present himself. Then every one will be “Yes; provided the bills are large enough in each cas And that is the way the Christmas-present question was settled in the Peddicord household. WH, 1, SIVITER, A WISE MAN should be careful not to lavish too great an expenditure in the purchase of Christmas presents, for his New-year's mail will often sadden.the recollection of his Yule-tide enj Thek Kodak Camera. “Vou press the button, we do the rest. OR YOU CAN DO IT YouR- SELF, The only camera that anybody can use without instructions. As convenient to carry as an ordinary field glass. World-wide success. The Kodak is for sale by all Photo stock dealers. Send for the Primer, free. The Eastman Dry Plate and Film Co, ROCHESTER, N. Y. Price, $25.00—Loaded for 100 Pictures. Re-loading $2.00. STEINWAY The recognized Standard Pianos of the world, pre-eminently the best instruments at present made, exparted to and art centres'of the globe, preferred for private and public use by the greatest living artists, and endorsed, among hundreds of others, by such as: Ricnarp Wacxer, Montz Rosextuat, Cart Bareaann, Franz Liszt, Conad Ansoncr, Cant Woursoun, Axton Rusixsrain, Turovowe Lescherizxy, | And by Mesdames Hector Bertioz, 5 | Axwnrte Esstrorr, Fruicien Davip, Anwa Manic, Cuantxs Gounod, Mant Kezas, Awaxoise THomas, S. B. Minis, Avute Avs Dex Onn, Tuxopore THomas, ab ‘Apruiwa Patti, Eraixa Grastex, Hrtixe, st . Tunesa TreTiens, Avourne Hexseur, Coir SateT-Sative, Pansra Rosa, Atrnep Jari, Axtox Si Mooi Have, Josuru Joacnin, W.Tavneer,” Buea Jen, AYAEL JOSEFFY, Reoourn Witimers, ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES. MAILED FREE ON APPLICATION. STEINWAY & SONS, WARDROOMS: Steinway Hall, 107-111 East 14th 8t., New York. HUROPEAN DEPOTS: STEINWAY HALL, ‘STEINWAY'S PIANOFABRIK, 15 Lower Seymour St. Portman Square, W. St. Pauli, Neue Rosea-Strasse, 20-24, LONDON, ENGLAND. HAMBURG, GERMANY, comicbooks.com