Judge, 1902-12-20 · page 39 of 52
Judge — December 20, 1902 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page contains two satirical pieces mocking holiday social conventions and newspaper absurdities. **"At the Christmas Party"** ridicules a fortune-hunter named Jack Goodfellow who pursues a wealthy widow purely for money. The joke: he can only court her *because* his credit is bad—a rich woman wouldn't interest a man with financial stability. It's satire on social climbing and transactional relationships. **"The Annual Victim"** depicts a newspaper office tradition: removing a deranged writer from the file room on December 24th. The "victim" is a man who habitually writes sentimental letters to Santa Claus under the pseudonym "Little Freddy." The humor targets both maudlin sentimentality and the predictable annual chaos at newspaper offices during the holidays. Both pieces mock human folly—greed and false sentiment—as quintessential holiday behaviors, presented with Judge's characteristic cynical wit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
= iN = \ = 1 i wer N\ Pevrnare STAN tans. AT THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. Jack Gooprettow—" Dear me! I've spent so much money on that rich widow that | haven't enough left to buy her a Christmas ift."* “Tom Huccer—" Well, your credit is good, isn't it?" Jack Gooprentow—"' Great Scott, no! If It was 1 wouldn't be courting that rich widow.” THE ANNUAL VICTIM. (Surgeon and assistants proceed to file-room, and after terrific CENE: Any newspaper office. Time: December 24th. struggle succeed in manacling and carrying out a wild-eyed individual S$ Enter ambulance surgeon, accompanied by three sturdy guards. who shricks and writhes in frenzy.) Surgeon—“ Where is he ?” Sympathetic visitor—* Who is tat poor ms. 2” Office-boy— They got him locked in the file-room, an‘ he’s ravin’ Office-boy— Aw, it’s jest de guy wot has bcen writin’s tf de let- somethin’ awful.” " ters to Santa Claus an’ signin’ ‘em’ Little Freddy,’ an’ all like \iat.” comicbooks.com