Judge, 1905-05-13 · page 5 of 16
Judge — May 13, 1905 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the pretentious "Arts and Crafts" furniture movement gaining popularity among wealthy Americans seeking "modern" aesthetics. The narrative mocks a nouveau-riche homeowner consulting a pompous furniture salesman who dismisses traditional comfort in favor of artistic fashion. The salesman's credentials are absurdly humble (he worked in a saw-mill with Native Americans), yet he speaks with unearned authority about "modern ideas." The satire targets: - **Conspicuous consumption** among the affluent - **Snobbish rejection of practicality** (replacing beds with broom-bundles, sofas made from brooms) - **Empty pretension** masquerading as sophistication - The **class aspirations** of the wealthy trying to appear cultured The joke: following trendy "modern" design principles results in absurdly uncomfortable, impractical furnishings—yet the salesman's confidence and the buyer's deference suggest this ridiculous approach is somehow superior to common sense.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
YE FURNITURE OF YE MODERN TIME. AVING secured a country home at the most reasonable unreason- able price 1 could obtain, 1 de- termined to furnish it according to modern ideas, Approaching the head sales: man of the largest establishment for that purpose, 1 explained the object of my visit he said, * out the rural idea for the interior You will, of course,” carry + Twill do anything you say," replied, © First, however, you must tell me it training: has been sufficient for my purpose He drew himself up in a haughty manner, © bwas Drought ap ina saw-nill time he repli uid since that have lived with a tr Apoloy Your ball 1 Indians, TE submitted the plans. said the salesman, © should have mitour Liest model of settees Here dl chairs, made from brooms. is a sofa such as you should The sota was composed of sixteen new brooms, put together with te yonaily by ar ways, who had lost all bis money an ae gy How much is it?" E asked. e This piece,” sant the salesman, | My || a Hi i , Hl WN ind i too! Phe testott Peare and on first that the spir rated’ your bose: Send fem along ian Stopped me with a look about your up stairs bedroums 2" vernment exhibit in is only forty dollars, Hil | WILL IT COME Madam, ourse | du. Water nit Hn hay no Rockefeller vittles in mine. TO THIS? turn down that hand-out, then, [don't want + My bedrooms 2 the usual way Hreplied. «© Why, Pin jo furnish them in ordinary chairs “Phe salesman siniled * Beds!" he ened, Thee tisn't the proper thi Wh {i nh The wi nA I il This is what we Ht woul 2 Lashed humbly led me te sp now,” he said li Jottily, sith al wave of his Lily wv proved elongated: soap of bunks, with the o: a r uh Vy« Nt PERV ted ju have Tv | | | i OUR BRITISH IMITA‘TORS. AFTER? arm * fewer y j comicbooks.com__