Judge, 1904-12-17 · page 12 of 48
Judge — December 17, 1904 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page contains holiday-themed satirical content from the early 20th century. **"Endless Chain"** depicts wealthy women exchanging unwanted gifts in a cycle—Mrs. Newlywed complains her friend returned a gift that originally came from her own relative two years prior. It mocks the social obligation and wastefulness of gift-giving among the affluent. **"A Ballad of Christmas-Gifts"** is verse satire about gift-shopping excess, listing increasingly elaborate presents for children and loved ones, then questioning what the speaker gets for themselves. **"A Boomerang for Mousie"** is a visual joke: a mouse and cat separately discover a Christmas tree, each hoping for gifts. The irony—the cat considers the *mouse* the gift "on" the tree—plays on predator-prey dynamics as dark humor about holiday expectations backfiring. The overall theme: Christmas gift-giving as social theater involving obligation, waste, and ironic disappointment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ENDLESS CHAIN. Mrs. Newtywep—" I always did think Mrs. Stubbs was stupid. Look, John; she has sent me the Christmas present that I sent her last Christmas."” Mr. Newirweo—"' Which one was that?” : Mrs. NewLyweo— Why, the one Aunt Marla sent me two years ago.”” A BALLADE OF CHRISTMAS-GIFTS. THANK goodness! my shopping is done. I’ve bought Bob a sword and a gun I've found for the kitchen’s bright sun A book of Hungarian dances (That laddie a proper free-lance is). ‘A dream-book whose cover entrances. Is Di’s. Kitty's longings still run For Frank here are oceans of fun— (I know that her heart will be won, To gory, old-fashioned romances. ‘A ‘monk’ that repels no advances. ‘Though her look most perversely askance is.) I picture Perilla’s fond glances A pony that honestly prances My best gift for Gertrude perchance is On finding these tea-cups in delf. Is Tommy’s—the tow-headed elf! A plate from Limoges for her shelf, (They're real—I'm taking no chances.) (A saddle its value enhances.) Whercon a rose-garden’s expanse is. Now, what shall I get for myself? Now, what shall I get for myself? Now, what shall I get for myself? I find there's a dearth of finances, But ¢hat for the power of pelf! A kiss from the red lips of Frances Is all that I want for myself, EDWARD W. BARNARD, A BOOMERANG FOR MOUSIE. Mr. Mouse—"‘ Ah, here's a nice Christmas-tree. I'll go up and see if Mr. Cat—"' Ah, here's a very nice Christmas-tree. And I see there is there is anything on it for me.”” something on it for me." comicbooks.com