Judge, 1901-06-29 · page 5 of 21
Judge — June 29, 1901 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This humorous domestic sketch depicts a married couple's argument during a train journey—a relatable scenario for Judge's early 20th-century readers accustomed to rail travel. Mr. Purdy refuses to open the window, citing his fragile health and fear of drafts causing bronchitis. Mrs. Purdy, desperate for air in the stuffy Pullman car, eventually props open the window with her shoe, allowing air through only the inner pane. The satire targets marital dynamics and hypochondria: Purdy's exaggerated health anxieties contrast with his wife's practical needs. The joke's payoff comes at dawn when they discover the window has a double pane—the open inner pane let air through harmlessly, rendering his all-night suffering pointless. The cartoon mocks both masculine anxiety about trivial ailments and the comedy of domestic compromise, a typical Judge theme.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
In th CZ iz Gol. Vo Yi /, LL yy ti’ LY” Sleepin ullldullasdiaallife Wa Y Car. By Carolyn Wells, 6c] JGH," growled Mr. Purdy, 5 U as he restlessly tossed about on the coarse, cinder- sprinkled linen of the Pullman. “Call this a sleeping-car! A waking-car, that's what it is.” “Yes,” assent- ed Mrs. Purdy, in a resigned voice, “T shan't sleep a wink this blessed night. There's not a breath of air, and with these heavy curtains I'm nearly ” suffocated.” * “ There's air enough,” re- joined her spouse, “ but the train bumps about so— and the rumbling is something I believe we're right over the wheels.” “J don’t mind the bumping,” went on Mrs. Purdy, in her irritating, aggrieved voice, “ but I shall die if 1 don’t have some air. John, you must let me open this window, just up to the first catch.” “Now, Hannah, you know I can't stand a draught. With the bronchial trouble a slight cold means a serious illness, and perhaps death. I'm soi able, but I can't stand the night ai “John Purdy, you're just as selfish as you can be. little breath of air would do you good, and a baby in arms wouldn't catch cold this warm summer night. Oh,” with a frantic toss and a swish of the bed-clothing, “I am so warm !" CAROLYN WELLS. awful. you are uncomfort- A “How absurd you are! The ventilators are open at each end of the carand a strong current of air is continually passing through the aisle.” “Well, we're not sleeping in the aisle!" No, we're not sleeping anywhere. If you'd keep still a few minutes I might doze off.” “T can’t keep still when I'm dying for want of air. Look here, John, I won't even open the window as far as the first catch — but let me just open it a couple of inches, and I'll slip the heel of my shoe under it to hold it up. You'll never notice the tiny bit of air that can come through that space, and it will keep me alive till morning.” “Well, have your own way, Hannah; you always do. But I know I shall catch my death.” “There! Now I've fixed it beautifully, and my shoe holds it securely, so it can’t jar itself down and wake us. Oh, how good that fresh air feels! Good night, John, dear.” “There — she's almost asleep, while I'm shivering in this confounded draught! Ugh! how the cold wind comes in. I’m chilled to the marrow. It is summer, to be sure, but the specd of the train makes the air really cool. At- chew! Atchew! There, I knew I'd get to sneezing. Well, I may as well be resigned to an early death, and then perhaps when I’m gone Hannah ‘Il wish she hadn't been so persistent.” Seven a. m.—* Why, John Purdy,” said Mrs. Purdy, as she awoke and looked out at the early morning sunshine, “just look at that window! It has double panes! And my shoe only held up the inside one, and so you—I mean, 1"— “Why, Hannah, sure enough. What a goose you were! and you— I mean, I—ahem — my dear, let's get dressed and go to breakfast.” SS . NN My i * Just look at that window I" comicbooks.com