Judge, 1891-05-16 · page 5 of 16
Judge — May 16, 1891 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces mocking social conventions of the era: **"An Abrupt Transition"** and **"An Indigestible Dish"** are paired poems about marriage—the first depicts a husband's romantic plea rejected by his cold wife; the second shows the uncomfortable consequences when she finally responds warmly. The humor targets the awkwardness of Victorian married life and domestic disappointment. **"Conversation Without a Subject"** is the main satire, showing two society women (Mrs. Meetupp and Mrs. Straiton) meeting and engaging in utterly meaningless small talk—constant interruptions, vague pleasantries, and incomplete sentences. The joke exposes how upper-class women conducted superficial social interactions, filling time with empty chatter about husbands, children, and social obligations while saying absolutely nothing substantive. The right side shows **"An Indigestible Dish"**—comic illustrations of dogs fighting over or eating scraps, a visual pun on digestibility that contrasts with the pretentious human social interactions above.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE AN ABRUPT TRANSITION. AN INDIGESTIBLE DISH. T A DAINTY little supper “Oh, thaw the ice, my darling,” With a jaunty little miss He pleaded, “with your breath !" A naughty little husband His wife sprang out before them Was pleading for a kiss. And then he prayed for death, His life was in its winter, “I'm sorry you're so chilly” His heart, he said, was cold ; (The tones he ne'er forgot), He vowed that it would warm it And instantly she made it If her he might enfold. Uncomfortably hot. MITTENS WILLETT. CONVERSATION WITHOUT A SUBJECT. Mrs. Meetupp—"So glad to meet you at last! I've been promising myself this” Mrs. Straiton—"And so have 1. It seems strange that, hearing so much of each other "— Mrs. Mectupp—" Very strange. But when I knew to-night that you were really here I said to myself "— Mrs. Straiton—" Exactly my thought. So it really does seem "— Mrs. Meetupp—" Doesn't it? Still, in picturing, | never dreamed "— Mrs. Straiton—" Oh, you are too kind! I somehow never thought of you as "— Mrs, Meetupp—" Ah, but Lam! On his next birthday my youngest will be "— Mrs. Straiton — Possible? It is so with some women, My husband declares that 1""— Ms, Mectupp —" How like a man! But they always think their wives must be "— Mrs, Straiton —" Yes; don't they? But then, of course, in a measure we "— NCOURAGEMENT. I have called to-night to ask—to ask for your hand.’ ell (silence, while the clock ticks), why don't you?” Mrs. Meetupp — Oh, yes; in a measure, certainly. Do you expect, to-morrow night, to be at the" Mrs, Straiton —"\ hope to be. I always try to go on account of "— Mrs, Mectupp —" Just my feeling. Of course the poor woman isn’t "— Mrs. Straiton—" No, really. But Ae is such a dear fellow! And he’s always at home for her Thursdays. So for his sake I try" Mrs. Meetupp —" \t appeals to me in the same way. I think in society we can do a great deal to stit up" — Mrs. Straiton—"Oh, more than we are aware of. And one likes to feel that one’s influence ™. Mrs, Meetupp — Yes, isn’ But here comes my "—— Mrs. Straiton—" Oh, are you going to" — Mrs, Meetupp —" Yes, this once | shall; with an old""—— Mrs. Straiton—"\'m immensely fond of it; but I've grown too” — Mrs, Meetupp — Oh, indeed you haven't. And this musi Mrs, Stratton —"1 assure you it does. But nevertheless Mrs. Meetupp —"Ah, you are wrong. Revoke your decision and let me get you a"— Mrs. Straiton —“ Thanks; but I really must not think "— Mrs. “No? Then shall I find you here when I ""— Mrs, Straiton —" Ves; unless 1". Mrs, MADRLINE §. ReIDGRS, comicbooks.com