Judge, 1890-12-06 · page 11 of 52
Judge — December 6, 1890 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical sketches mocking domestic relationships and marriage customs of the era. **"The Presents She Bought"** ridicules wives who buy impractical gifts—a smoking jacket for a non-smoker, skates for someone who can't skate, a painting for a nearly-blind grandmother, a music box for a deaf grandfather, and a hat-rack for her husband. The satire targets both women's poor gift-giving judgment and the performative nature of gift-giving divorced from actual utility. **"An Unkind Reply"** is a brief jab at nagging wives: when Mrs. McCorkle can't think what to give her husband, Mrs. McCrackle suggests "a piece of your mind"—implying the wife constantly complains. **"Distanced"** and the accompanying illustration depict a woman who agrees to marry a baron only if he gets permission from her current fiancé, sarcastically suggesting she values her prior engagement commitment while accepting a new proposal. The humor lies in the absurdity and the woman's apparent lack of commitment. All three sketches stereotype women as frivolous, nagging, or duplicitous in relationships.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE PRESENTS SHE BOUGHT. +s] 'VE been out all day buying Christmas presents,” said Mrs. Gummey to Mrs. Gargoyle, “and I'm about tired to death, “What did you get ?” ‘ “Well, for brother Jack I got a lovely smoking-jacket.” “But Jack doesn’t smoke.” “No; but the jacket was just too sweet for anything, and it just suits his complexion. And I got brother Will a pair of skates.” kates for Will! Why, he couldn't skate a step if his life depended on it.” “1 know, but I just couldn't think of anything els®."” “ What other presents did you buy “A lovely oil painting for grandma.” “Why, she’s nearly blind.” Yes; but the parlor really needed another picture.” * What else?” I got an exquisite music-box for grandpapa.”" “Exactly! He's as deaf as an adder.” “Oh, well, he'll appreciate the intention of the gift “Yes, of course. What did you get for your husband?” “Oh, I got him a lovely hall hat-rack, We needed one so badly, and I thought now was a good time to get one.” AN UNKIND REPLY. Mrs. MeCorkle— Christmas is almost here, and I can’t think of anything to give my husband.” Mrs, MeCrackle—"Why not give him what you give him every other day?” Mrs. McCorkle—" What's that?” AN UNFORTUNATE SKETCH. Mrs, McCrackle—"A piece of your mind.” w Mrs. BLACKWHITE—" Didn't you promise me, only a month ago, that : you'd be my willing slave for life?" . Biackwittre—“I did, from the bottom of my heart." “SANTA CLAUS.” Well, what of that? So does a cat. Mrs. BLACKWuITE— ‘And now you fulfill it by putting me ‘way into the background.” DISTANCED. Miss Brenton—‘* I'll marry you under one condition.” Baron Hartz—"‘I vill agcept any gondition, mein own.” Miss Brenton—'* Get Dick Westend’s consent. I've been engaged to him for a week, and he might want to keep me.”