Judge, 1897-12-18 · page 39 of 53
Judge — December 18, 1897 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* magazine presents multiple Christmas-themed comedic sketches satirizing social behavior and gift-giving etiquette. **"The Ogres and the Angels"** contrasts thoughtless gift-givers (the "ogres" who forget friends or give inappropriate presents) with considerate ones (the "angels" who remember recipients' actual preferences). **"The One Exception"** jokes that a man cannot give his girlfriend a useful gift—specifically a diary—because she won't keep it; the implication is she'd use it for personal secrets rather than preserve it long-term. **"The Switch That Was on Her Mind"** and related sketches depict romantic and domestic situations with double meanings involving physical contact and courtship customs. **"The Error of Innocence"** humorously depicts a young woman's embarrassment when she mistakes a shaving set for an infant's toilet-set—the humor derives from her innocent mistake being misinterpreted as something else. **"The Christmas Green"** explains mistletoe tradition: a fellow who waits until positioned under mistletoe to declare affection. The cartoons reflect late-19th/early-20th-century social mores around gift-giving, courtship, and domestic propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DIE. THE OGRES AND THE ANGELS. HE Christmas ogres are the short-minded man who would have remembered his friends “if he had only thought of it” and the tactless woman who shuffles her gifts as if they were cards, dealing out what is most inappropriate everywhere. The Christmas angels are the man who hasn't forgotten that a sturdy boy prefers skates toa psalm-book and the woman whose memory is elastic enough to stretch to those whom nobody else will remember. THE ONE EXCEPTION. Ted—"1 can't think of a present for my girl. I want to give her something useful that she will be sure to keep.” Ned —"In that case give her anything but a diary.” “+ Please, marm ?” “Well, Thomas ?” Please, marm, ver switch has fell down.” THE SWITCH THAT WAS ON BUT HE DIDN'T T love you better than my life. Would that T could prove it." * You can, Algy ; just go in and Christmas Judge. HER MIND. tion it to papa.” Tommy (to himself)—"' Gee! if she ain't feelin’ for her new back hair.” ( Tableau.) THE ERROR OF INNOCENCE. (4 ] THINK I'l take this shav- ing-set,” said the young woman, blushing prettily “That isn't a shaving set aid the affable cler * that's an infant's toilet-set.” The young woman con- tinued to blush prettily—only more so. miss,’ LITTLE PITCHERS, Bobby Aunt Emar. Gracie—""Isn't that a fun ny thing for a big woman like her?" Bobby— Seems so, kind o', but Mr. Smartley says she’s in her second childhood.” “m goin’ t’ give le." THE Christmas green is a fel. low who always waits until she stands under the mistletoe. “THE LEADING LADY." comicbooks.com