Judge, 1895-12-07 · page 19 of 48
Judge — December 7, 1895 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page contains three separate satirical pieces mocking late 19th-century social trends: **"The New Santa Claus"** ridicules the "New Woman" movement—the emerging feminist push for women's independence and equality. Mrs. Santa Claus replaces the traditional male figure, representing anxieties about changing gender roles. **"Ibsen's Latest"** satirizes both Henrik Ibsen's then-controversial plays (seen as immoral and realistic) and gift-giving gone wrong. A husband buys an expensive Ibsen set at auction without reading it; his wife discovers it was mislabeled whiskey flasks intended for a Baptist conference. The joke: Ibsen's works were considered so unreadable that whiskey bottles were hidden inside them. **"Up to the Mark"** and **"Lay-Figure to the Rescue"** mock wives' aggressive Christmas shopping, suggesting gymnasium training prepares women for the "full-fledged" consumer behavior required during the holiday season—treating shopping as athletic competition. All three pieces express skepticism toward women's changing roles and modernizing society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE NEW SANTA CLAaUs. Mes. Santa CLAUS—" Don't be afraid, children; Tam Mrs, Santa Claus, We've had a new-woman movement up our way.” IBSEN’S LATEST. ++ JMB. SOFTLY.” she began coldly, you sent me a set of Ibsen's works for Christmas, Do not deny it. His blood froze within him. He neither denied nor affirmed, for speech had fled him. ‘The frightful thought struck full upon him that he had only known of Ibsen by hearsay and had bought the set at an auction. Gracious heavens! what if he were unreadable, immoral, realistic ? “L opened them,” she continued, “and * Don't say you read them!" he cried desperately, “It was a mistake of the book-seller's. Don’t say you read them!" “ she answered with withering scorn; “I did of read them, for there was a two-quart flask in every one. ‘They were evidently intended for a Baptist conference in Maine.” And then George wished he'd looked a little more thoroughly into Ibsen himself. UP TO THE MARK. SS HOW does my wife get on in her gymnasium practice?” “Oh, very nicely. I think by next week we shall be able to graduate her as a full-fledged Christmas shopper.” An idea strikes him, He puts it in practice. Successful result. LAY-FIGURE TO THE RESCUE. comicbooks.com