Judge, 1907-04-06 · page 7 of 16
Judge — April 6, 1907 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* satirizes the telephone's disruptive effect on domestic life. The main story follows Mabel Martin, a young woman who receives a call and, finding no one on the line, improvises an elaborate one-sided conversation about social engagements—deliberately misleading her family about inviting various people to lunch and theater outings. The satire targets two things: first, the novelty and unreliability of early telephone technology (the disconnected call); second, adolescent mischief and modern girls' apparent disrespect for parental authority. Mabel exploits the telephone to trick her family for amusement, going "blithely" against her mother's and father's protests. The sidebar cartoons add commentary: "Circumstances Alter Cases" mocks materialistic women (a wife suddenly interested in a poor ex-lover once he becomes rich), while "On the Job" and "The Auto in Art" offer lighter domestic humor unrelated to the main narrative.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sree, ah | ¢ CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES. Evperty wittionaine (her husband)—-'* A former flame, eh? Why are you so excited? You said he was so poor that he couldn't support a kitten." Younc wire—" Oh, he is not poor now. He has become very rich.” MABEL HAS THE FAMILY INTERESTED. “Ha, ha! That's a good one on mamma. No; I'll not peach. HE telephone in Mr. Martin's handsome suburban home hung in Yes; she'll be glad to have you lunch with us to-morrow.” the big, warm library, whither the whole family was wont to gather Mamma, severely, ** Mabel, who is that you are inviting here to every evening lunch to-morrow? The house is torn up for spring cleaning. Recall after dinner, — that at once." This night it “Babe? Oh, she’s vigor- tinkled faintly, ous. Box of candy? Please and Miss Mabel don’t trouble. Matsy has been sprang to an- eating candy all through Easter swer it. There and is half sick now.” was no one at Little Mattie was all atten- the other end, tion at once, but the telephone but Miss Ma- confab went on. bel’'s quick wit “Mr. Prim, sister says I instantly de- am wrong. Her engagement vised a scheme for the next Friday. She to interest the will be delighted to go with household all you to see Mansfield Friday the same. This night.” one-sided con- Miss Elise, savagely, * Ma- versation was bel, is that that odious little what they Prim? You know I would not heard : he seen at a dog-show with W “The thea him.” wan yl tre Friday “Well, good-bye. We | night? Oh, si will see you to-morrow at two.” ter has an en- Mabel hung up the ‘phone and gagement. [turned to the outraged fan ON THE JOB. am sure she'll nily chorus, * Mabel !" “+ Do you think you'll do? ladvertised forastrong be sorry not to Miss Mabel, who has been go." a victim earlier in the day, “Is * Well, 1" licke Mth her kids that 2, ~ 6. ~, around ts apnis fot te ioe evother (ids that came Miss Elise, this the first of April? Good- rather sa night! Lam off for bed." ly, “Why, Mabel, T haven't an engagement! Who is it?" axnim DuNcAN But Mabel paid no attention to the protest and went on blithely. ALL MADE PLAIN. «Father? No; I think he sold that horse, if you mean Arabian.” : Father, sternly, «+ Mabel, Arabian is not sold. Is that Bowser?” [)° 20" know, my erring brother, * ys . Whence the tears come when + No; father will not be in town this week, He has the gout.” youve? ane SO IN ART: Father, snappishly, «* Mabel, are you deaf? Tell Bowser I'll see ris the cider, oh, my brother! sous'e" cae fahes old. aaron him to-morrow at the club.” From the apple of your tires and gilds ‘em.”” comicbooks.com