Judge, 1902-11-08 · page 7 of 16
Judge — November 8, 1902 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story mocks a man named Rudford Plimmer who obsesses over proper behavior while being hypocritical himself. Plimmer is furious when two strangers casually take his newspaper at a restaurant without apology—he considers this a serious breach of etiquette. However, when confronted about his own rudeness, Plimmer explodes into profanity-laden insults and leaves without paying, demonstrating far worse manners than the original offenders. The joke targets self-righteous people who demand others follow social rules while ignoring their own violations. The cartoon illustrates Plimmer's angry outburst, capturing the absurdity of his position. The accompanying smaller jokes about cars replacing horses and a woman's education further satirize class pretensions and social anxieties of the era.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A LESSON IN ETIQUETTE. M®. 8UDForD PLIMMER was angry with the world and with himself. He was com- pelled, by the exigencies of busi- ness, to spend a certain day in a Soon the second stranger's meal was brought on, When the heavy little dishes were symmet- rically jammed about his plate he folded the newspaper into a con- ~ venient size and deliberately stuck strange city, and to add to the un- \ it into his pocket, unmindful of thankfulness of his spirit he did > the baleful glare of Mr. Plimmer, Not possess sufficient wealth to enable him io dine as elaborately as he desired. The limit of his means was a medium-priced res- taurant, which served ready-made dinners and served them quickly. Mr. Plimmer took a seat at a table and finished the reading of a paper which he had purchased, with a growl, from a hungry news- boy that morning. When his din- ner was slammed before him he laid the paper on the table and tried to eat the victuals, At this moment a stranger took a seat across the table from him, ordered dinner in the tone of one who is used to medium-priced food, then, without a word of apology, picked up Piimmer's paper and began reading it. Soon a second stran- ger took a seat at the same table. He also ordered dinner. When the dinner for the first stranger was served he, too, laid the paper on the table. Then the second stranger, also without even the most conventional word of ex- cuse, picked up the paper and 5 the occurrence as to forget to or yet of the cold stare of the first stranger. Then the first stranger bent toward him and murmured, “That is my paper you are taking.” Is it?" asked the second stranger, removing it from his pocket. “Here you are, sir.” He handed it to the first stranger, who took it and began placing it in his pocket. This was too much for the correct Mr. Plim- mer. He leaned across and shook his finger in the astonished face of the first stranger. Excuse me!” he snorted; wexcuse me! You dod-gasted, pic-faced, pickle-nosed, pilfering pigeon-toed, idiotic puppy, excuse * me! That is my paper! I'll teach you table etiquette !" ‘And crumpling the newspa- per in an excitedly trembling hand he stalked majestically from the restaurant, followed by the -af- frighted gaze of the waiter, who had been so completely upset by Mr. Plimmer the check for the commenced reading it, Itangered Mr. Plimmer beyond expression to realize that there existed an- other man who was so ignorant of the usages of politeness as to appropriate what he thought was the how to run a house—can cook, for example, and nurse the sick, mend newspaper of a person who was similarly ill-bred, So great was his clothes, and, in fact, is familiar with al! the multifarious details of inward wrath that he ate a goodly portion of the property turkey, and domesticity ?” even bolted quite a quantity of the composition pudding, without real-* The girl's mother—" Certainly not, sir! Why, if she had learned izing what his ire was leading him into. all those things her education would have been neglected.” THE CLOUD'S FORESHADOWING. Laramie Luxe—** Them autos is a-knockin’ out the horse so fast that after awhile | suppose Ill have to be a reg’lar horseless an’ a horse-pistoless cowboy if | want to get along.”” dinner. w THE IDEA! The boy's father —“ Madam, let me ask if your daughter knows ALL THAT WAS. LACKING. Gtapys— Is Ferdy's social position assured ?"* Eprru—"* Not quite. He hasn't killed himself with his aute yet.”" comicbooks.com